1 John Chapter 3: Characteristics of the Sons of God, and Children of the Devil

1 John Chapter 3: Characteristics of the Sons of God, and Children of the Devil

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

The startling difference in the Gospel Age from any time previous is the call to sonship—to being sons of God. Previous calls were to be the servants or the friends of God. For example, Moses was called the “servant of God,” and Abraham was the “Friend of God” (Neh. 10:29; James 2:23).

John was different from the other writers of the epistles except for his brother James, both being sons of Zebedee, sons of thunder. The similarities are a subtle argument confirming, in our judgment, that the Epistle of James was written by James Zebedee, not James of Alphaeus. The consecrated are all called “sons of God” now. Therefore, all who have accepted the call have this common heritage in the present life.

Comment: John wrote in his Gospel, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

As John said earlier, his purpose in writing this epistle was to bring joy to those of the consecrated who had responded to his tutorship. This epistle was open-ended. As a general epistle, it was not addressed to a specific individual, church, or location. At the time John was writing, he was the special servant, for Paul and Peter had already deceased. If John went to Ephesus, which seems to be the case, he was addressing those whom he had instructed and influenced over the years as an apostle; that is, from Ephesus, he was writing not just to one location but to brethren in all locations where he had been. As the last surviving apostle, he was a steward now in a special sense.

“Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” The scribes and Pharisees could not understand Jesus’ preaching because they were of their “father the devil” (John 8:44), whereas the consecrated are of God, their Heavenly Father.

Q: Can the pronouns “him” in verse 1, “he” and “him” in verse 2, and “he” in verse 3 apply to either God or Jesus?

A: Yes, both applications are appropriate. In regard to verse 2, our hope is to see both God and Jesus, and all who get a spirit resurrection will see God. The angels see God as He is—his form and nature. Certainly the very elect will know God on a higher level, or plane of thinking, than any below that plane, but all who remain faithful unto death will see Him as He is. This manner of reasoning was peculiar to John. Paul centered on winning the prize, and John emphasized remaining faithful—on not abandoning the Christian walk and on obeying God’s will.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that all of the very elect “may be one,” even as he and the Father are one (John 17:11). However, it will take an eternity to know God, even if one is of the very elect, because He is so unfathomable in all His ways.

Comment: 1 John 2:28 reads, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming [presence].”

The presence (Greek parousia) will last the entire thousand years. During that period of presence, different things will happen. God willing, if we make our calling and election sure, the very first one we will meet is Jesus, who will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). Then Jesus will escort the 144,000 and introduce them to the Father. However, to a lesser but very real sense, anyone who gets spirit life will see Jesus and God.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Of course verse 2 refers to Jesus, but it also applies to God. Our hope is to see God and to hear

Him sing. First, Jesus will individually and separately introduce each of the 144,000 to the

Father. Then, when the formal group acceptance takes place at the marriage ceremony, God will sing, as well as do certain other things at the marriage supper. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). For those Christians who maintain their consecration and hang in there, this will be their very special experience.

If faithful, we will see God and Jesus, and we will partake of the divine nature and be immortal like them. As stated in verse 1, what “manner of love” to “be called the sons of God”! We should most desire to see (in descending order) God, Jesus, and the apostles.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Therefore, “every man that hath this [glorious] hope [and prospect] in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Verse 3 shows the importance of the doctrine of hope. Faith alone is not enough. We should personally identify faith in God with the hope of the high calling, expecting to receive the reward of divine nature if we are faithful. Just as credulity is not faith, so there is a false hope. True hope is based on true faith. Faith, hope, and love are essential—and equally important.

John was reminding the brethren of things already explicitly inculcated by the Apostle Paul. Themes of love, sin, and eternal life were stressed over and over. Practical instruction of Christian living came from Paul, and John gave general exhortation afterwards. In regard to sin, John took the opposite tack elsewhere. We sin; we do not sin. We must be careful in studying his epistles, for unlike Paul, he did not give the specifics. In order to understand John’s epistles, it is necessary to study his Gospel and the Book of Revelation. The false Church has used John’s epistles to justify wrong deeds.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

The thought of “whosoever committeth sin” is “whosoever practices sin” because everyone sins. As the Apostle John said, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). However, John also said, “Do not sin,” meaning that the Christian tries, with all his might, to live a righteous life to the extent of his ability and then asks for forgiveness whenever he transgresses. However, to practice sin is another matter, for that would be sinning as a creature of habit.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth [not only the gospel but] also the law.” Not only does the committing of a sin transgress what we see exemplified in Jesus’ ministry—in his gospel light—but also it is a transgression against the Old Testament. Thus it is a double sin. The Old Testament is the thinking of God, and in the New Testament, the “God life” is seen in the person of Jesus. Stated another way, if we see Jesus, we see what God would do if He could appear in the flesh. Thus we have the example of Jesus in the New Testament and the principles of righteousness in the Old Testament. If we sin, we transgress both the letter and the spirit of the Law. Both willful and unintentional sins are transgressions. New creatures do sin, but they do not practice sin. Habitual wrong behavior is not part of the new creature.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

All three major anti-Christian doctrines that existed when John wrote this epistle denied the vicarious sacrifice of Christ—that his death, the shedding of his blood, cancels sin and is the basis for repentance. Therefore, when John wrote, “And ye know that he [Jesus] was manifested to take away our sins,” those whom he was addressing realized he was pointing out the fundamental error of the prevailing heretical doctrines. “In him [Jesus] is no sin.”

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

“Whosoever abideth in him [Christ] sinneth not [does not practice sin].” However, if anyone says that he does not sin at all, he is a liar (compare 1 John 1:10). The Christian is not to practice sin, but John did not mean that a Christian could not be overcome or overtaken in a sin.

Comment: The NIV reads, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.”

Both “abiding” and “sinning” involve a period of time. The epistles of John must be harmonized, not considered as isolated verses. The new creature does not allow sinful thoughts to nest or take up residence in the mind, for little sins can lead to big sins. The new creature does not continue in sin.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is [reckoned] righteous, even as he [Jesus] is righteous.” Those who practice righteousness—righteousness is their pursuit—are trying to do God’s will as it is exemplified in Jesus and recorded in Holy Writ.

Verse 7 must be qualified. Many in the world do righteous works, but that is not the thrust here. Romans 10:3 reads, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” To be acceptable to God, we must be sure that our righteousness is according to His requirements.

A new creature not only thinks good thoughts but practices good acts in harmony with the Word of God. That a tree is known by its fruits is a general, overall rule.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Comment: Here is an example of John’s using a limited vocabulary. The word “beginning” is in 1 John 1:1; 2:7,13,14,24; and 3:8,11, but the references are not all to the same beginning.

Reply: Yes, and this verse mentions “the devil” three times.

“The devil sinneth from the beginning.” For instance, about four years before the Apostle Paul died, he took a boat to Israel but stopped en route at Miletus on the coast of Asia Minor. He sent word ahead to the elders of Ephesus to meet him there, and they did. In his rather long dissertation, he spoke prophetically, warning them that they would not see him again or receive any more advice from him in the future because this was his last journey. (From there, he went to Israel and then was shipped to Rome as a prisoner, where he served a little time, was released a short time later, became incarcerated a second time, and was put to death by Nero—all within four or five years.) Thus, shortly before his decease, he said to the elders of Ephesus, “For I know this, [1] that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also [2] of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, [seeking] to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30). Both conditions are reflected in John’s first epistle, which was written about 25 years after Paul’s prophetic statement. If John was now the bishop (or overseer) at Ephesus, he was encountering grievous wolves entering the Church and some from within speaking perverse things.

Now we can understand why John worded portions of his epistle two different ways. (1) He told about evil ones, grievous wolves, who had never been of the Church. They had a wolfish nature when they entered, and they were still wolves. In other words, while they professed Christianity, there was no change in their conduct. (2) John also told of a class that arose within the Church speaking perverse doctrines. They were of the truly consecrated, but they began to err and go out of the truth. Thus there were two different classes.

In this first epistle, then, John went back and forth in speaking of the two classes. He said that those of the grievous wolf class were of the devil—they were of the devil previously, they were of him now, and they would be of him in the future. Those of the other class left of their own volition. They tried to draw disciples by dividing the class and getting some to leave.

Down through history, the Catholic Church has called such individuals schismatics and Protestants, but sometimes brethren leave a class because of faithfulness and sometimes because of unfaithfulness. Each situation has to be studied to see which side is right when crucial issues arise. Is the division in harmony with doing God’s will, or is it at enmity with Him? In this case, those who left John were in the wrong, and they were of both classes—the grievous wolves and those who arose speaking perverse things (3 John 9-11).

In summary, Paul prophesied of coming turbulence in the Smyrna period of the Church, of which the Apostle John was the messenger. John delivered the message that Jesus is “the first and the last,” but those who drew disciples after themselves felt that Jesus was merely a good man and a leader and that now they were leaders (Rev. 2:8). This type of thinking was the early beginnings of the development of Papacy. Advocates of that system claimed to be the representatives of Christ, and they forbid reasoning on the Scriptures separate from the doctrine of the nominal Church. Such subterfuges took away from the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. In his own way, vocabulary, and thinking, John was saying that Jesus is the Head of the Church. He is the beginner and the finisher, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega.

The message of John in the Smyrna period of the Church continued: “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews [Christians], and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9). In other words, the grievous wolves and those who arose from within speaking perverse things were of the devil, of the synagogue of Satan, but they claimed to be Christians and said that John and those with him were not Christians. However, John pointed out that Jesus, as the first and the last, was the Teacher of the Church, and not the others.

Another portion of the message to Smyrna, but applying to the latter part of that period, was the following: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days [the ten years of persecution under Diocletian from 303 to 313]: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

Of the Ephesus period of the Church, Jesus said, “I know … how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars” (Rev. 2:2). Faithful Christians hated “the deeds of the Nicolaitans” (Rev. 2:6).

Paul pointed out about five of these errorists by name, cutting their influence, and Peter mentioned Ananias and Sapphira.

Thus the devil’s seed did not prosper until “men,” the apostles, fell asleep in death (Matt. 13:25).

John was the last living apostle, so we can imagine what happened after his death. The seed thoughts were there, and he was fighting the error. He tried to countermand and rebut the reasoning and thinking of the others, and his message was successful until his death. He commended the “little children,” the “fathers” (the old-timers), and the “young men” for courageously siding with him when this test came (1 John 2:12-14). Truly John, with the effective type of reasoning he used, was the best man for the job at that time. When he died, doctrinal chaos ensued. The woman with the gospel light on her (the true Church) became pregnant and labored in pain, showing trouble within the Church. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered” (Rev. 12:1,2).

While John was alive, the errorists left because they knew they could not countermand his reasoning. Having been an eyewitness, he could say, “I knew Jesus. I saw him, and I was his disciple.” Thus the errorists left and tried to needle and seduce others to come and listen to their thinking. When John died, real trouble occurred in the Church. The woman gave birth to an illegitimate man-child, which was caught up to heaven to become the man of sin (Rev. 12:5).

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works [the deeds, the outward manifestations] of the devil.” In other words, there was no gray area in John’s day. Everything was either black or white. The conduct of those who were evil was manifestly evil. Today, to the contrary, there is a great and wide gray area between good and evil because no one wants to draw a line. For example, legislators do not know where to draw the line between pornography and what is allowable.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

“Whosoever is born [begotten] of God doth not commit sin [willingly]; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot [practice] sin, because he is born [begotten] of God.” The consecrated knew that if they joined the others, they were leaving the fellowship of the Son and of God.

The children of God in John’s day were manifest. In contrast, the children of God in our day are not obviously manifest. Sometimes a hypocrite is thought of as a Christian in good standing, for those who observe him see good works. As we get nearer and nearer the end of the age, evil will increase, and the condition John spoke of in this first epistle will be most appropriate. The Book of Jude shows that a real problem will surface in the true Church. When that problem develops, John’s practical, common-sense reasoning will be very effective. The longer one allows the little foxes to nibble at the vines, the less are the chances of retrieval through repentance. The longer one remains in sin, the deeper the nails are driven into the coffin.

We can and should judge right and wrong deeds, for if we close our eyes to them, we will incur responsibility. The Scriptures tell us when to excommunicate and/or rebuke and when to be silent. Incidentally, we should try to determine if repentance is genuine, that is, whether there are real or crocodile tears. Following repentance, one is restored to God’s favor—to life at least but not necessarily to the Little Flock.

Thinking of the new creature and the flesh as two separate entities can be dangerous, for the wicked old heart can then excuse sin as being “my flesh,” “my nature.” It is helpful to have a measure of doubt in regard to our degree of responsibility and our standing with the Lord. This type of “fear” was illustrated by Paul’s saying he could not judge himself.

There will be 144,000 new creatures in the Little Flock, but the Great Company are new creatures too. Some of the consecrated become fully developed but slide back to the Great Company. Others never develop to Little Flock status and thus remain unripe wheat. With sin, we cannot determine the fine line between the new creature and the flesh—only God can make that determination. The instruction is to work out our “own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We are to have the highest standard possible, which is God’s standard of perfection.

If the standard is lowered, we will not measure up to the Little Flock. We are to “fight the good fight of faith,” which means to continually fight the old man (1 Tim. 6:12).

Only in a few limited cases can we judge the degree of willfulness. Denial of Christ after consecration is sinning the sin unto death. We do not pray for such individuals, for praying would be a waste of time. In other cases—the “grayer” areas—our prayers should be in proportion to the possibility we see of retrieval and repentance. As time goes on, our prayers become less frequent. We are not to pray for Satan or for those avowed (formerly consecrated) enemies of God who, in essence, are following Satan’s ways.

We are studying about “love” in John’s epistles because some back in his day did not help suffering, hungry, and poor brethren but believed in a form of stoicism. They said the Christian should be impervious to both sorrow and pleasure. In fact, they said that those who sorrowed were not faithful Christians. Hence John was opposing the harsh puritanical spirit and those who were not merciful toward their brethren undergoing trials. This element thought power and prosperity came because of faithfulness. John was combating these extremes—he was not saying to disregard sin in others.

Before consecration, we were of our father the devil (John 8:44). If we lose our begettal after consecration—our begetting with the seed of the life of the new creature—then we will once again be of our father the devil. Notice that it is the “seed” of life, not the seed of immortality, for new creatures, if faithful, will be of either the Great Company (eternal spirit life) or the Little Flock (immortal spirit life). It is one thing to lose the anointing and another thing to lose our begettal, or sonship. The anointed body is just the 144,000. We can lose that anointing yet still get life in the Great Company, or we can lose both the anointing and the begettal and go into Second Death.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

“Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God.” How simple to discern! Those who were doing evil could be seen, and the evil was extreme, for most of it was along the lines of lasciviousness and immorality. In addition, the love of the world and of money occurred.

Money was so attractive that it created deeds of cruelty to others. We speak of corporations as having no soul because the stockholders are looking for profits. For example, the product may contain additives, the object being to maintain the price or to boost it higher for more and more profit.

With regard to immorality, footprints were incorporated into the stone in Ephesus to lead people to the brothel, and the brothel was conducted in the name of Diana, the goddess of love. The criticism of the Ephesus period of the Church was that the brethren had left their first love. With the Smyrna period, there was no criticism, for those who stayed with John were loyal. However, Smyrna was not the most prolific period in developing members of the very elect, for the harvest of numbers occurred in Ephesus and Laodicea. Nevertheless, those who remained with John will get life.

“Neither [is] he that loveth not his brother” of God. This lack of love was manifested in different ways such as not visiting the brethren who were imprisoned for their faith. Instead those who were imprisoned were criticized and thought of as immature. Those who did not love their brethren were sophists, who believed in wisdom. They maintained that God was interested in the new creature, the new mind. There is a measure of truth in that statement, but each step of knowledge has to be followed by a step of deeds, or works. Just as the Israelites entered the Promised Land foot by foot, so it is with the progress of the new creature. Joshua said, “God will give you the victory, but you first have to put your foot forward.” Then faith will follow. Knowledge is essential but not necessarily a great degree of it. Grace and obedience are the primary objective; that is, character development is the bottom line as to where each of the consecrated stand with God. Faith is necessary, but character development is more proof.

John was speaking plain language to those of his time, and they knew what he was talking about. There was a lack of brotherly love, even when great atrocities were being committed, as well as injustices in the Church. Those who listened to John’s counsel were very much profited, and he was successful in his ministry of that time in regard to Smyrna.

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Those to whom John was writing this epistle had “heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” John’s warning was directed against those who were influenced by Gnosticism in thinking they “knew it all.” Feeling they were spiritual, they believed that God was interested in the new creature. Consequently, they minimized the old creature, allowing all sorts of abuses to take place. They felt their immoral conduct would not jeopardize their standing with the Lord, for they were intellectually serving God in the inner man. Actually, the Christian needs both—moral conduct and knowledge. For each step of knowledge, there should be a step of grace and obedience.

What was the message that the brethren had heard “from the beginning”? John was referring to the new and living way preached by Jesus Christ. After his crucifixion and resurrection, the apostles, including John, went out and preached this new message of love, life, and liberty in Christ, summarized here as “that we should love one another.”

1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Comment: The Parable of the Penny indicates that some of the consecrated at the end of the age will have an “evil eye,” an improper heart condition (Matt. 20:9-15). Since John’s writing seems to indicate a spirit of jealousy, these two conditions show that trouble is coming.

Reply: Yes, there is a relationship, for certainly the Parable of the Penny is a prophetic picture of a situation that will arise at the very end of the age, at the twelfth hour of the parable, at the time of the giving of the penny to the laborers. We have defined the “penny” as the responsibility of obeying present truth at that time, the cost of which will be a very severe experience. As shown in the parable, the murmuring will occur right in the brotherhood because the Lord will reward with the same privilege those who come in at the eleventh hour and participate in the Harvest work.

There is a danger in becoming hypercritical. To critique a situation is one thing—to judge right from wrong dispassionately in our mind. We may differ with brethren in regard to policy, direction of service, etc., and certainly the Lord’s Word does not stultify differences of opinion.

However, conduct that absolutely contradicts the character, life, and deportment of Jesus, the apostles, or the prophets is a more serious matter that can degenerate as it did with Cain. For example, the Israelites’ murmuring on ten occasions in the Book of Numbers was really against God, although it was manifested in some cases against Moses or Moses and Aaron. And Miriam and Aaron even murmured against Moses. Thus there are different types of murmuring, and the question is, Where will the murmuring lead?

Here John said to love one another, but he was not saying to love those who had left him. Rather, he bluntly called them liars and antichrists because of their fruits. As Jesus said, it is incongruous for both bitter and sweet waters to come from one mouth, orifice, or well. Thus the Gnostics, who had great intellectual knowledge about God, revealed the true heretical nature of their doctrines by their contrary conduct, which they openly manifested. In this epistle, John was encouraging those who were still with him that they were doing the right thing and that they had the truth. Since the others were openly transgressing, the right and the wrong of the matter were plain and simple to see.

Another strong argument was as follows. Had those who were all intellectual known Christ from the beginning? Had those who differed with John heard the Sermon on the Mount? Were they among the 500 brethren who had seen Jesus after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6)? Almost without exception, they were not, but they gave the impression of having known the truth for a long time. In contrast, John knew Christ and had seen him. John had followed Jesus from place to place and leaned against his breast. He had heard Jesus’ sermons and seen the miracles. A testimony from someone like that carried more credibility than the word of the empty talkers despite their oratorical skills.

“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.” This statement is strong, for John was likening those who had left him and disagreed with him to Cain, who “slew his brother.” They did not mince any words as to what they thought about John. Even though he was an apostle, they felt they had superior information. From their standpoint, morals were given the back seat and knowledge the front seat, whereas knowledge and conduct were to coalesce and harmonize.

“And wherefore slew he [Cain] him [his brother]? Because his [Cain’s] own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” Jealousy was one problem, for Abel offered up a better sacrifice, which was ostensibly a lamb, whereas Cain gave a cereal (or material) offering that indicated self-justification. Those whom John addressed understood what he was saying.

If we had lived back there, we could have recognized the false class from their rejection of John. They ceased to heed his instruction. Just as Cain slew Abel, so this false class “slew” the true brethren. There was a sharp line of demarcation back there that we do not have today.

The allusion to Cain and Abel will apply at the very end of the age. Today we see seed thoughts, but as time goes on, conditions will greatly deteriorate. Both in the world and in the Church, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other. Feeling they are right, the erring element will differentiate between the new creature and the flesh, and thus will justify their wrong deeds. Some in the early Church betrayed their own brethren to be put in the arena with lions. The same type of betrayal will happen at the end of the age.

1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Verse 13 is a comforting thought. John was concerned that some who were with him might be seduced into this other line of reasoning (1 John 2:26). To answer the situation, he talked bluntly and straight from the shoulder, that is, without innuendo or fine words. Proof that the others did not know what they were talking about was that their actions did not square with the doctrine of Christ.

Comment: It is one thing for the world to hate the Christian and a more serious matter for brethren to hate other brethren.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Comment: John subsequently wrote, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 John 5:2). Verse 14 should not be taken out of context, for it is describing a proper love, not an emotional love.

John was saying that the Holy Spirit was leaving the others. Whatever they were before, they were now manifesting the spirit of the world and of the god of this world, Satan. They were using worldly, human wisdom and reasoning in trying to seduce the brethren. They were not using truth that squared with God’s Word.

The statement “We know that we have passed from death unto life” does not mean, as some would say today, “once saved, always saved.” The implication is, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” In other words, passing from death unto life is conditional, for we can lose that love for the brotherhood.

An appropriate text is 2 Corinthians 6:8,3, which shows that the Christian should think of the brotherhood and its standard: “By [through] honour and dishonour, by [through] evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; … Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.” The words “All one body we” in the hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers” are like a principle or a platform with regard to those whom God is calling. In thinking of the brotherhood, we are not thinking of individuals, for the personalized aspect changes to a brotherhood, to those whom God is calling as members of Christ. This epistle indicates that some who were with John at one time subsequently deflected and were no longer with the brotherhood. The brotherhood is a standard, and that standard has to be held up high. Even if we ourselves cannot do all we would like, we need to keep the ideal as high as we can and not let it suffer loss. From that standpoint, “we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren”—and, therefore, we should continue to love the brethren. That abiding love, or constancy, assures one of life, and its absence brings death. When John said, “He that hateth his brother,” he was referring to a hatred that was openly manifested.

Comment: Cain had opportunity to change his thinking, for the Lord spoke to him in between the time he offered the unacceptable sacrifice and the killing of his brother. The warning was, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” (Gen. 4:6,7).

Reply: Yes, God told Cain what the problem was, but instead of asking for forgiveness, he slew Abel, his brother.

Comment: Cain’s response after killing Abel was, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9). The question was raised in the negative when, in reality, Cain was his brother’s keeper, and we are our brother’s keeper too in terms of the brotherhood at large in the context of this epistle.

Reply: Yes, for there are two extremes in being our brother’s keeper. (1) With Cain, there was a complete absence of the keeping. (2) The other extreme is where one becomes a dictator. In that case, one is so concerned for his brethren that he does not want them to differ with him in any way, and he tries to force them into bondage. The middle ground between the two extremes is the proper ground. Stated another way, the two extremes are libertarianism and bondage, and in between is the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free and where one communicates with “him that teacheth in all good things” (Gal. 5:1; 6:6). The proper love and keeping of one’s brother is alerting him to danger if he pursues a course that would jeopardize his future.

However, to become judgmental in the sense of relegating a brother into a certain class is dangerous. There are a few but very rare instances today where it can be observed that an individual goes into Second Death. In the past, for example, one who came into the truth as a brother subsequently denied Christ, even thinking of him as Antichrist. Such an experience may seem impossible, but it has happened.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

The opponents of John manifested open animosity. Consider Cain as an example. The climax of his anger occurred when he slew his brother Abel, but surely, prior to the slaying, hatred was reflected in his face and attitude. Wouldn’t there have been a spirit of enmity and jealousy in his relationship with Abel? The inference, too, is that there were providences where the Lord favored Abel. However, Cain saw those providences in an improper light, and his hatred ended up in the extreme act of murder. We can be sure that he gave plenty of other digs before committing that ultimate act.

Comment: While all of the consecrated will get the penny in the future, the Judas class will turn to the same spirit of hatred and murder that Cain manifested.

Reply: Yes. Judas acted for monetary reasons. When his conniving did not pan out as he had intended, he experienced pangs of conscience—but too late. Whatever his motive was, the deed of betraying Christ sealed his fate. Incidentally, there are several ways of betraying Christ. In the Middle Ages, a family member sometimes betrayed another family member—the father the son, the son the father, the wife the husband, the husband the wife, etc.—but why? In some cases, the reason was not money but the avoidance of death. Some wanted to disassociate themselves from a family member in order to escape persecution, and the disassociation was accomplished through betrayal. Thus there are different motives, all pertaining to gain. One may gain his life through betrayal but lose his soul.

“Ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” The suggestion is that the murderer experienced a change of attitude. Life was in such an individual at one time, but his love grew cool and changed.

John’s message of encouragement was that, generally speaking, if those who loved the brethren and were standing up for the truth remained faithful, they had the assurance of receiving life after death. They might not be members of the Little Flock, but they would get life. John was giving that slant so that the faith of a greater number of his fellowship would be strengthened. He wanted to encourage them to continue.

Why, in verse 13, did John insert the thought “Marvel not … if the world hate you”? Verse 12 mentioned that Cain slew Abel and they were brothers. Hence John was warning that such “murder” will occur right in the Church. Verses 12-15 are warning us not to be surprised if the world hates us because Satan controls the world, but right in the true Church, brother will hate brother as Cain hated Abel. John went back and forth from negative to positive reasoning and vice versa.

Those who love the brethren pass from death to eternal life (that is, not necessarily to immortality). However, those who manifest the Cain disposition will go into Second Death. In John’s day, the hatred of this class was easily recognizable through abusive words and deeds.

Cain’s works were evil; Abel’s works were righteous. John used common-sense natural reasoning here. Works and actions are to be observed over a period of time, for cumulative actions and deeds should be judged. The wrong element in John’s day taught that Christ did not come in the flesh, they thought they did not sin, they did not manifest compassion, etc.

These things could be observed. As Christians living in the end time, we should pray about these matters and watch. We should not judge by an isolated word or incident but by cumulative words and deeds.

Abel’s sacrifice with the shedding of blood was more acceptable than Cain’s. Back in their day, some information was probably available that God preferred animal to grain sacrifices. The sacrifices of Cain and Abel were habitual, not a one-time offering. Cain, who was not meticulous enough with regard to his own offerings, was jealous of the preference God showed to Abel. “Works” (plural) were either righteous or evil habitual sacrifices, and on one occasion, Cain’s envy got out of control with the result that he killed Abel.

“Hateth” was a strong manifestation in John’s day. We should not look down on a brother, for an ill-will disposition is not Christlike. One who hates his brother will not get eternal life. Note: One who is sweet and gentle in speech can still be a murderer. John was a “son of thunder,” and he loved his brethren.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

“Hereby perceive we the love [Greek agape]” that God is looking for, as exemplified in Jesus. Jesus laid down his life for us, and we should “lay down our lives for the brethren.”

How does one lay down his life for the brethren? There are many ways, some of which are sacrifice along lines such as moral, financial, and prayer support; service; visiting the sick; and correspondence to offer encouragement. Common menial things done for our brethren are also in order. For example, Jesus, who could do great miracles, washed the disciples’ feet.

Another mode of service, one not usually thought of, is being properly and constructively critical when a brother is doing something seriously wrong. The eternal spiritual welfare of the individual is considered rather than personal temporary fellowship. Therefore, in view of the fact that we are interested in the outcome of one’s life, there are times when we may have to say some hard things, as John was doing here.

Laying down life for the brethren can center on our motivation. For example, a brother might refuse a promotion so that he (1) will not compromise principle and (2) will have more time to help the brethren. However, we should not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of or to become so busy with activity for the brethren that we actually jeopardize our own spiritual welfare by not having enough time for study.

Those who were trying to seduce the brethren with John probably talked about the wonderful light they had. They would have emphasized their freedom of conduct. How appealing that approach would be to the flesh! To base our love for God on just knowledge, while ignoring the moral aspects of the Christian life, would be having one foot on the earth and one foot in heaven. It would be getting the best of this world’s goods and the best of the spiritual life. How nice to get the new creature to agree with the old man, the flesh, in this thinking! The Scriptures say that the natural heart is exceedingly deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). The new creature must predominate over the old man and be the superior.

1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Verses 17 and 18 remind us of two texts in the Epistle of James. “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15,16). The family relationship of John and James Zebedee can be seen in their similar writings. The difference is that John’s common sense was more emotional, and the common sense of James was more severe and strict in its practicality.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue.” What is the difference between not loving “in word” and not loving “in tongue”? “Tongue” refers to a dishonest statement or profession, to an untruth, whereas “word” is an honest profession that is not acted upon. We are not to withhold help from brethren truly in need. The instruction is to love in deed and in truth, not in words only.

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

If one has love for the brotherhood, that concern will be manifested in various ways. In varying degrees, we are either an extrovert or an introvert by nature. An extrovert is often confident where he should not be, while an introvert is too critical and constantly condemns himself. Those who are given to frequent self-examination should try to evaluate themselves in a dispassionate way. Considering all of their good points helps them to come out of the cycle of introversion. Since none are perfect, we need to ask, “Am I really trying to serve the Lord?”

Yes, we are trying with all our might, but we find that we are imperfect and need Christ’s robe of righteousness and the forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings.

John was trying to encourage the brotherhood. His opponents, who were extroverts by nature, were prospering and confident. Their message to those loyal to John was to come up to a higher level and experience their joy. Although they were speaking falsehoods, this salesmen type of mentality seems to prosper in Satan’s world—with recognition, better pay, and better jobs.

While the opposers were more prosperous, they did not share that prosperity with the brethren who were in need. John was calling attention to the disparity that existed. Some people wrongly regard temporal prosperity as God’s blessing and favor. Thus providence is very difficult to discern unless we train ourselves to see what is right and what is wrong. The Apostle Paul spoke of those who “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). And what enables one to discern between good and evil? Maturity in Christ.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

God is able to read our hearts. Therefore, if we know we have done something wrong, then certainly God knows it too. If we know a wrong has been done, we should try to correct the situation and then do better the next time. There are things we do not know about ourselves that only God knows. And sometimes others know something obvious that we are unaware of. In other words, some people have secret faults that everyone can see except the one who has the fault. In either case, the situation is thoroughly apparent to God like an open book, for He looks on our heart like a lapidarian with a jewel. He looks at our true character to see if something is salvable.

John was giving encouragement. If we know we are trying our best to do God’s will, and if our prayer is to that effect morning and evening, we should count that a favorable sign. A review of our past history and God’s leadings is sometimes necessary to encourage us to continue on in the way.

One knows if he is uttering a dishonest or hypocritical remark. Paul said to keep the antitypical “feast, not with … the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:8). “Conscience” is a watchdog that helps us to search our heart and make a correction where appropriate. If our conscience is bothered, then we can be sure that God, who is greater than we are, knows about the sin too. We are to strive to have (1) a conscience void of offense toward God and man, (2) an unfeigned love, and (3) an undissembled faith.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Even with all of his experiences and his faithfulness, the Apostle Paul said, “I judge not mine own self,” yet he advised Christians to examine themselves (1 Cor. 4:3). We are trusting in Christ and trying to follow his leadings, but we are imperfect beings in an imperfect world. Neither we nor others can be perfect. As long as others give outward evidence of their love and zeal for God, we accredit them as brethren in good standing despite their faults. We want the same relationship for ourself. Standing apart and viewing things from this perspective sometimes helps us not to be introspective to the point of discouragement and despondency.

Medications are on the market today that were not available in the old days. People lived and died with their medical problems. In addition, dentistry lacked modern techniques, anesthesia, and antiseptics, so when people got seriously sick, they died—and often at a young age. A unique problem today is that in our society, almost everyone is taking medication, pills, and/or vitamins. The drugs play on the emotions and the minds of those who take them. Thus there is sort of a contradiction to some of the things that we read, even in Scripture, about the mind or the body, for pills interfere with our behavior.

If we are misunderstood but know we are doing right, we should have “confidence toward God.” He searches and knows our heart.

We receive what we pray for if we ask aright and if we keep God’s commandments and do what is pleasing to Him. Thus there are two conditions. To receive, we must (1) not ask amiss and (2) be obedient, doing those things that are pleasing to God. Sometimes we get an experience that prepares us for an answer to a later prayer.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Verses 23 and 24 express very simple logic. The verse is not saying, “He who believes in the invisible presence or the sin offering,” but, “Those who believe on the name of God’s Son and love one another and are trying to obey.” These two verses should be encouraging, for they help us to know we are in the way of truth. True, we still have to attain the finished product, but at least the criterion of trying to keep God’s commandments helps us to know which side of the fence we are on.

To “know” Jesus Christ is to know about his preexistence. In fact, John called Jesus the “Son of God” because of his preexistence. If we did not appreciate Jesus’ laying everything aside and coming down here to planet Earth, his becoming flesh, and his dying for us, half of the truth would be lost. To not have this realization and appreciation would be to see Jesus as only a man—and not as a Redeemer sent by God. Jesus had to die to be the basis for our forgiveness.

Therefore, with John saying, “Believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,” we think Jesus had a preexistence as the Son of God in a special sense. We have to hold onto that thought so that the power of what Jesus has done on our behalf will sink in and become meaningful.

John needed to remind the brethren that Jesus came in the flesh and that we should believe in the name of Jesus as the Son of God and love one another. The necessity for this reminder shows the extent to which doctrine deteriorated so soon after AD 33. Many did not believe in Jesus’ preexistence—they thought he was a man only, not the Son of God. Hence John went into the preexistence of Jesus as the Logos. The vicarious aspect of his life was soon forgotten because heathen philosophies permeated, and Jewish thinking got intermixed.

If we believe on the name of God’s Son, love one another, and keep His commandments, we know that He abides in us and we abide in Him. Verses 23 and 24 are showing the bottom line of life and being with God and His Son. Of course, as Paul said, we are to build on that platform, or base, as if only one gets the prize (1 Cor. 9:24). John’s chief concern for the life of each individual—for long-term destiny—was love. Love is rewarded with eternal life.

He who keeps God’s commandments dwells in Him. John emphasized God in his Gospel and epistles. For example, “The Father himself loveth you” (John 16:27).

“Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” A contrary spirit, or disposition, is not one that God dwells in.

WordPress database error: [INSERT command denied to user 'dbo279736967'@'74.208.16.72' for table 'wp_options']INSERT INTO `wp_options` (`option_name`, `option_value`, `autoload`) VALUES ('_transient_feed_610559337d2d9fe3189fe75635c50ce2', 'a:4:{s:5:\"child\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:3:\"rss\";a:1:{i:0;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:3:\"\n\n\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:7:\"version\";s:3:\"2.0\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:7:\"channel\";a:1:{i:0;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:51:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:4:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"FinalTrump.com\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:25:\"http://www.finaltrump.com\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:48:\"End Times Bible Prophecy for the average person.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:13:\"lastBuildDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:53:40 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"language\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"en-US\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:9:\"generator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:29:\"http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"item\";a:10:{i:0;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:114:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:62:\"Perpetrators of Turkey’s ‘Malatya Massacre’ Put on Trial\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:115:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/perpetrators-of-turkey%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98malatya-massacre%e2%80%99-put-on-trial/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:124:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/perpetrators-of-turkey%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98malatya-massacre%e2%80%99-put-on-trial/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:53:40 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:25:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:42:\"Signs of the Times (click on article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:51:\"a theology instructor at the local Inonu University\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:16:\"Cage Action Plan\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"Col. Mehmet Ulger\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"Emre Gunaydin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"Erdal Dogan\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19:\"Ergenkon conspiracy\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"gendarmerie\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"Hursit Tolon\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:20:\"Judge Hayrettin Kisa\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:29:\"Justice and Peace Party (AKP)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:32:\"Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:34:\"Maj. Haydar Yesil; and Ilker Cinar\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:13;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:16:\"Malatya Massacre\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:14;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"Necati Aydin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:15;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:21:\"non-Muslim minorities\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:16;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:18:\"Orhan Kemal Cengiz\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:17;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"Orhan Oguz Gurbuz\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:18;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:35:\"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:19;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:22:\"Ret. Gen. Hursit Tolon\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:20;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"Ruhi Polat\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:21;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"Sgt. Adem Gedik\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:22;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:29:\"Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:23;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:43:\"Zirve Christian Publishing House in Malatya\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:24;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"Zirve murders\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6373\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:384:\"Nineteen suspects accused of inciting the brutal 2007 murders of three Christians in eastern Turkey went on trial before Malatya’s Third Criminal Court in early September. With the court’s acceptance in June of a third indictment in the case, known as the “Malatya Massacre” in the Turkish media, allegations against primarily military officials have finally been made public.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10532:\"<h2>Summary</h2>\n<p><strong> </strong></p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6374\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/malayta-victims.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6374\" title=\"Christian victims of the 2007 Malatya massacre, from left, Necati Aydın, Uğur Yüksel, and Tilmann Ekkehart Geske.\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/malayta-victims-300x156.jpg\" alt=\"Christian victims of the 2007 Malatya massacre, from left, Necati Aydın, Uğur Yüksel, and Tilmann Ekkehart Geske.\" width=\"300\" height=\"156\" /></a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christian victims of the 2007 Malatya massacre, from left, Necati Aydın, Uğur Yüksel, and Tilmann Ekkehart Geske.</p></div>\n<p><strong>ISTANBUL, Sept. 19</strong> (Open Doors News) — Nineteen suspects accused of inciting the brutal 2007 murders of three Christians in eastern Turkey went on trial before Malatya’s Third Criminal Court in early September.</p>\n<p>With the court’s acceptance in June of a third indictment in the case, known as the “Malatya Massacre” in the Turkish media, allegations against primarily military officials have finally been made public.</p>\n<p><strong> </strong>“This indictment provides the first solid evidence that our military authorities officially assigned the named suspects to monitor and attack the Christians in Malatya,” Umut Sahin from the legal committee of the Turkish Association of Protestant Churches told Open Doors News.</p>\n<p>The new 761-page indictment alleges that the attack by five young murderers who stabbed, tortured and slit the throats of two Turks and a German citizen in their Malatya office had been masterminded by Hursit Tolon, a retired general in Turkey’s 1<sup>st</sup> Army Corps, and ultranationalist military officials in the Malatya gendarmerie.</p>\n<p>According to the new indictment, the Zirve murders were part of the so-called Cage Action Plan hatched by military officials trying to undermine the AKP government through assassinations, threats and acts of terror against Turkey’s non-Muslim minorities.</p>\n<p>Just two days before the Sept. 3 hearings began, Turkish authorities shocked the lawyers for the victims by abruptly replacing the two prosecutors, and two of the three judges, in the case, leaving only one member of the judicial panel familiar with the trial’s massive files: presiding Judge Hayrettin Kisa.</p>\n<p>Soldiers testified that the Malatya gendarmerie had been monitoring the handful of Christians in Malatya 24 hours a day, tapping their telephones and paying informers some 60 percent of their intelligence budget to collect data on their activities, sometimes in cooperation with police and secret intelligence officials.</p>\n<p>And after the attack, the gendarmerie officers tapped the telephones of the victims’ families, lawyers and judges in the case, and then gave false documents and testimony to manipulate the trial, trying to portray the three murdered Christians as criminals linked with illegal groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the soldiers testified.</p>\n<p>Hearings on the case will resume on Nov. 12, when Tolon and the remaining alleged perpetrators are scheduled to testify.</p>\n<p><strong> </strong></p>\n<h1>Perpetrators of Turkey’s ‘Malatya Massacre’ Put on Trial</h1>\n<h2>Military officials accused of masterminding attack, manipulating investigation.</h2>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>ISTANBUL, Sept. 19</strong> (Open Doors News) — Nineteen suspects accused of inciting the brutal 2007 murders of three Christians in eastern Turkey went on trial before Malatya’s Third Criminal Court in early September.</p>\n<p>With the court’s acceptance in June of a third indictment in the case, known as the “Malatya Massacre” in the Turkish media, allegations against primarily military officials have finally been made public.</p>\n<p>“This indictment provides the first solid evidence that our military authorities officially assigned the named suspects to monitor and attack the Christians in Malatya,” Umut Sahin from the legal committee of the Turkish Association of Protestant Churches told Open Doors News.</p>\n<p>The new 761-page indictment alleges that the attack by five young murderers who stabbed, tortured and slit the throats of two Turks and a German citizen in their Malatya office had been masterminded by a retired general in Turkey’s 1<sup>st</sup> Army Corps and ultranationalist military officials in the Malatya gendarmerie. The gendarmerie is a law-enforcement arm of the military; It has jurisdiction outside of Turkey’s cities and towns.</p>\n<p>Ret. Gen. Hursit Tolon, who was named as the prime suspect behind the killings, at the Zirve Christian Publishing House in Malatya, failed to appear during the six consecutive days of hearings that began Sept. 3. The 70-year-old former general sent the court a 10-day medical excuse from his prison cell.</p>\n<p>Initially jailed in 2008 as a suspect in the alleged <a href=\"http://www.globalpost.com/passport/foreign-desk/100301/turkey%E2%80%99s-ergenekon-conspiracy-justice-or-secular-witch-hunt\" target=\"_blank\">Ergenkon conspiracy</a>, Tolon was accused of plotting to topple the ruling Justice and Peace Party (AKP) government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After his release in 2009 due to poor health, he was re-arrested in January 2012 on &#8220;serious suspicions of a criminal act.&#8221;</p>\n<p>According to the new indictment, the Zirve murders were part of the so-called Cage Action Plan hatched by military officials trying to undermine the AKP government through assassinations, threats and acts of terror against Turkey’s non-Muslim minorities.</p>\n<p>In the initial indictment, state prosecutors demanded three consecutive life sentences for the five killers, all apprehended at the scene of the crime. When the presiding judge questioned them during the September hearings, several of the murder suspects insisted that they had no motive to overthrow the government and had in fact voted for the AKP.</p>\n<p>Denying any acquaintance or links with Tolon and the other accused conspirators, defendant Emre Gunaydin declared, “We went on an expedition on behalf of Islam on our own to accomplish this event.”</p>\n<p><strong>A judiciary scandal?</strong></p>\n<p>Just two days before the Sept. 3 hearings began, Turkish authorities shocked the lawyers for the victims by abruptly replacing the two prosecutors, and two of the three judges, in the case, leaving only one member of the judicial panel familiar with the trial’s massive files: presiding Judge Hayrettin Kisa.</p>\n<p>“This has seriously damaged effective progress in the trial,” said Erdal Dogan, a lawyer for one of the victims. In particular, the two prosecutors who had worked on the new indictment for the past 1.5 years, examining the evidence and questioning witnesses and the accused in person, were taken off the case.</p>\n<p>“Changing the court prosecutors has had an unbelievably negative impact on the case,” Sahin said. “For six days, the accused suspects made incredible criticisms of the indictment, but the new prosecutor did not utter a single word for the whole six days!”</p>\n<p>In response, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors stated that the Justice Ministry’s reassignment of the Malatya prosecutors and judges was a routine transfer, simply following recent legal reforms affecting the status of criminal courts.</p>\n<p>But according to Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a lawyer for the victims, “This is a serious and really unacceptable scandal, concerning such a huge case. There are more than 40,000 pages in the attachments to this indictment alone!”</p>\n<p>“Is it possible that the AKP government is uncomfortable with the conclusion of this case?” questioned <em>Today’s Zaman</em> columnist Orhan Oguz Gurbuz on Sept. 16. “The government must address these doubts and questions. Otherwise, it will undermine its own legitimacy and the pluralist/democratic identity that it has relied on since the beginning.”</p>\n<p><strong>Spying on Christians</strong></p>\n<p>After the new indictment was read out in court, six of the accused soldiers testified to what had been going on behind the scenes for at least a year before Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were attacked and killed in their office on April 18, 2007. According to their testimony:</p>\n<p>Under the local commander’s direction, the Malatya gendarmerie had been monitoring the handful of Christians in Malatya 24 hours a day, tapping their telephones and paying informers some 60 percent of their intelligence budget to collect data on their activities, sometimes in cooperation with police and secret intelligence officials.</p>\n<p>And after the attack, the gendarmerie officers tapped the telephones of the victims’ families, lawyers and judges in the case, and then gave false documents and testimony to manipulate the trial, trying to portray the three murdered Christians as criminals linked with illegal groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the soldiers testified.</p>\n<p>On the witness stand, the soldiers told Judge Kisa that they refused to accept “any of the accusations” against themselves.</p>\n<p>“I was obeying orders conveyed to me within the command-chain hierarchy,” Sgt. Adem Gedik said, defending his illegal surveillance within the Malatya city limits, which fall under jurisdiction of the police force, not the gendarmerie.</p>\n<p>Hearings on the case will resume on Nov. 12, when Tolon and the remaining alleged perpetrators are scheduled to testify.</p>\n<p>The key suspects include Col. Mehmet Ulger, Malatya’s gendarmerie commander at the time; Ruhi Polat, a theology instructor at the local Inonu University; Maj. Haydar Yesil; and Ilker Cinar, an intelligence agent assigned by military officials to fake his conversion to Christianity, infiltrate the Turkish Protestants and then publicly “reconvert to Islam,” denouncing Christians as a threat to national security.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>END</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>**********</p>\n<p>Copyright 2012 Open Doors News</p>\n<p>Open Doors News is distributed to raise awareness of Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. Articles may be reprinted by active subscribers only.</p>\n<p>For subscription information, contact: <a href=\"mailto:jeffth@opendoorsnews.org\" target=\"_blank\">jeffth@opendoorsnews.org</a></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:120:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/perpetrators-of-turkey%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98malatya-massacre%e2%80%99-put-on-trial/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:1;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:54:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:39:\"Thy youth is renewed like the Eagle’s\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:80:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/thy-youth-is-renewed-like-the-eagle%e2%80%99s/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:89:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/thy-youth-is-renewed-like-the-eagle%e2%80%99s/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:06:35 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:5:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:40:\"Special Features (click on Article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"eagle\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Fasting\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Psalm\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:18:\"strange scriptures\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6369\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:94:\"“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed as the eagle’s”\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1257:\"<h1><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Thy youth is renewed like the Eagle’s</span></h1>\n<p><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/Bald_Eagle-Fearsome_Flight-1024x768.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6370\" title=\"Bald_Eagle-Fearsome_Flight-1024x768\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/Bald_Eagle-Fearsome_Flight-1024x768-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Psalm 103:5</p>\n<p>“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed as the eagle’s”</p>\n<p>This fact in the life of the eagle is given as a promise to the righteous. The eagle lives to a very great age. As he grows old his beak becomes so longs that he can no longer eat; then he flies away by himself to the top of a cliff and pecks and pecks on a rock until his bill falls off, after which a new bill grows in its place. While without the use of his bill, the bird loses his feathers because of fasting. After the new bill grows and he again takes food, new feathers start growing, so that he looks and appears like a young eagle, going forth in a new covering with youthful beauty and strength. “This youth is renewed as the eagle’s”</p>\n<p>Strange Scriptures that Perplex the Western Mind. Pg. 16</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:85:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/thy-youth-is-renewed-like-the-eagle%e2%80%99s/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:2;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:120:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:23:\"The Vision of Dry Bones\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:58:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-vision-of-dry-bones/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:67:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-vision-of-dry-bones/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:02:14 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:27:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:32:\"Booklets (click on booklet name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"Prophetic Studies\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"1948\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Abraham\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:16:\"Ancient Worthies\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Arabs\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Babylon\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:35:\"Bless all the families of the earth\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"breath of life\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"Diaspora\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Ezekiel\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19:\"God\'s Chosen People\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"grave\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:13;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"great army\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:14;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"holy remnant\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:15;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"Israel\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:16;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"Jacob\'s Trouble\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:17;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"Jerusalem\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:18;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"Palestine\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:19;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"resurrection\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:20;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:27:\"seventy years of desolation\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:21;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"twelve tribes\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:22;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:2:\"UN\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:23;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"United Nations\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:24;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19:\"Valley of Dry Bones\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:25;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19:\"vision of dry bones\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:26;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"Zechariah\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6363\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:433:\"The dry bones represented the Israelites themselves. As a people they had lost heart, lost hope, and said, \"Our strength is dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off from our parts\"—from all tribal and national union. If they looked at their present condition, they were strangers in a strange land, foreigners, without opportunity for patriotic feelings; if they looked backward, and remembered divine intervention on their beha\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19174:\"<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h1 align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>THE VISION OF DRY BONES</strong></span></h1>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><em><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/valley-of-dry-bones-cover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6364\" title=\"valley-of-dry-bones-cover\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/valley-of-dry-bones-cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"154\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0026.htm#Ezek37:1\">EZEK. 37:1-14</a></em></strong></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>&#8220;I will put my spirit within you.&#8221;—<em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0026.htm#Ezek36:27\">Ezek. 36:27</a></em></strong></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>The passage of Scripture under consideration was addressed by the Lord through the Prophet to fleshlyIsrael, then in captivity inBabylon. The dry bones represented the Israelites themselves. As a people they had lost heart, lost hope, and said, &#8220;Our strength is dried, and our hope is lost, we are cut off from our parts&#8221;—from all tribal and national union. If they looked at their present condition, they were strangers in a strange land, foreigners, without opportunity for patriotic feelings; if they looked backward, and remembered divine intervention on their behalf, their deliverance from Egypt, their favor as a nation under David and Solomon, etc., they could think of these only as bygones, lost blessings and opportunities; if they looked forward, they could see no possible hope of their ever again becoming a nation; and as for all the great expectations which they had once entertained respecting their nation, as God&#8217;s favored people, and the heir of the promises made to Abraham, that they should rule and bless all the families of the earth— these hopes were dead, they were gone, they could have nothing of this kind in the future. The condition ofIsrael, scattered throughoutBabylonia, was indeed well illustrated by the dry bones of the vision.</p>\n<p>The hand (power) of the Lord was upon Ezekiel, causing him to see this vision—he was not literally transported to any literal valley of dry bones. In the vision he was caused to pass amongst the dry bones, that he might get a full view of the situation, as they lay strewn all over the valley, very dry. Then the Lord&#8217;s explanation comes, that these dry bones are, or represent, the whole house of Israel. They did not represent merely the two tribes which went last into captivity, nor merely the ten tribes which went earlier, but the whole house of Israel, the twelve tribes. It was not until Jesus’ day that they were no longer thought of as two distinct nations, as they had considered themselves before the seventy years of desolation. To Ezekiel who was in captivity at this point in Babylon this vision gave him hope of the return of Israel, but piecing together “here a little, there a little and line upon line, and precept upon precept, we see that the main thrust of this vision was yet future from Ezekiel’s day. <strong>Zechariah chapter 9</strong> verse <strong>11</strong>, tells us about prisoners in a pit [valley] wherein is no water. Zechariah was a prophet at the end of the seventy years of desolation and prophesied many End Times events. Jesus tells a parable of a Rich man [nation of Israel, who had all the favor of God], who was cast into hell [sheol-hades-pit-grave], where he cried for some water because there was none <strong>Luke 16:22-24.</strong></p>\n<p>So when did this dry and desolate condition begin?</p>\n<p>“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” <strong>Mat 23:38</strong></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>What is the Significance of Dry Bones?</strong></span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>When God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” the prophet replied, “Thou knowest.” Ezekiel’s words show he had faith that if God wanted the bones to live, they would. He <em>knew </em>God had the answer. He also realized there was something behind this question, for it would take a miracle for <em>very dry </em>bones to <em>live</em>.</p>\n<p>The Lord directed Ezekiel to prophesy, that is, to declare the divine message, and the divine message was a foretelling of the things which would, under divine providence, come to pass. The message to be declared was that God had the power and would exercise it, by which these who were dead, and dried as respected their national hopes, would be gradually revived, would gradually become one homogeneous people, a nation in their own land. It would not be done suddenly, but gradually, and that through attention to the divine message, which the Prophet was delivering. First the dried and hopeless ones would come together, then they would begin to unite one to the other, and gradually assume a national existence, and finally would be infused with the spirit of the Lord, as the breath or energy of national life, begotten of faith in the promises, and would stand again a nation.</p>\n<p>The people&#8217;s hopes, which were thus dead, and the Lord sends the message, &#8220;Behold, O my people, I will open your<strong> </strong>graves, and cause you to come out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.&#8221; As a further part of this symbolic picture the Prophet is in vision shown the process by which the dry bones would be gathered, reorganized and revivified. He says there was &#8220;a noise and a shaking.&#8221; The <em>Revised Version,</em> apparently with propriety, renders this, &#8220;thunder and an earthquake.&#8221; Following this demonstration the bones came together.</p>\n<p>The withered hopes ofIsrael, scattered throughout the provinces of Babylonia in Ezekiel’s day, cut off from their parts, from one another, from tribal union and from national cohesion, was only a foreshadowing of the more general scattering of that nation among all the nations of the civilized world (mysticBabylon) during this Gospel age. With the vast majority all hopes of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise had died, had withered away, and had no more vitality than a dry bone. But now, in the end of this Gospel age, the due time has come for these dry bones, scattered all over mystic Babylon, to be gathered part to part, rehabilitated and revivified with hope in the promises made to the fathers. The great noise is the &#8220;seventh trumpet,&#8221; which has begun to sound; the earthquake is the coming great revolution in which mysticBabylonwill fall before the great Prince whom Cyrus in a measure prefigured. Meantime, as we look at the dry bones ofIsrael, we perceive that they already are in movement, that they are already drawing near one to another, and organizing as &#8220;Zionists,&#8221; with a view to national reorganization and a return to the land of promise. Probably the hopes of the Israelites began to revive as soon as they learned that the army of Cyrus had begun the conquest ofBabylon, and so now the hopes ofIsraelare reviving as they witness the march of events, and realize that a great day of trouble is coming upon the nations of Christendom. Their hopes will more and more go out toward Palestine and national reorganization and not disassembling the nation for the so called sake of peace with their Arab brothers, as the troubles of the day of wrath draw near.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>Ezekiel’s Commission</strong></span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>God not only told Ezekiel to speak (prophesy) to the dry bones but gave him the exact words to say. Ezekiel had to address the bones with the authority of God and <em>as if the bones could actually hear him</em>. The prophet manifested faith and courage by speaking directly and loudly—as a trumpet. He spoke <em>with authority: </em>“O ye dry bones, <em>hear the word of the LORD</em>. Behold, <em>I </em>[God] will cause breath [wind, spirit, Hebrew <em>ruach</em>] to enter into you, and <em>ye shall live</em>.” Various phases of development are given in the next few verses, but God’s motive is seen here: to cause Israel to <em>live</em>. WhenIsrael lives, the nation will be endued with POWER.</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.</strong></p>\n<p>The order of development in giving “breath” to these bones is as follows: sinews, flesh, skin (epidermis), and breath (spirit). The breath, though mentioned first in verse 5, would be given <em>last</em>. In other words, the objective was the breath. Then verse 6 shows the stages of development, the sequence. Sinews hold the bones together; they draw the separate bones into one cohesive whole with flexibility, coordination, and locomotion. The flesh, the meat part of the body, is a symbol of material prosperity. The skin, which includes nerves, is a protection for the flesh from the air and irritants. Skin is a symbol ofIsrael’s external recognition as a nation or power, which occurred in 1948.</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>As the process began to happen, Ezekiel first heard a noise, then a “shaking,” an earthquake—an ominous sound that showed the prophecy would be fulfilled under <em>troublesome </em>conditions (persecutions, pogroms, and hatred directed against the Jews that caused them to turn to Palestine/Israel). The migration toIsrael was something like the settlers who came toAmerica, an unknown land, under difficult conditions, leaving behind possessions in order to gain liberty.</p>\n<p>The <strong>bones</strong> began to come together from 1878 on, contemporaneous with the Zionist movement and the preparation work preceding it, beginning with Petatikva (“Door of Hope”), established in 1878, the first Jewish colony in Palestine after almost 2,000 years. An organized, concentrated effort to return toIsrael and settle there is indicated by the bones’ forming into human skeletons.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>Revitalization of a Lost Nation</strong></span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>Next, sinews or ligaments covered the bones, followed by flesh or muscle, and then skin. Now Ezekiel saw many complete bodies, but <em>no life, no breath</em>.</p>\n<p>1. <em>Sinews </em>go into the flesh like the roots of a tree. At first the sinews were just laid on the bones, but later they were attached to the flesh. The sinews picture organization, recolonization, and activities such as building houses and draining swamps for farmlands.</p>\n<p>2. <em>Flesh </em>pictures temporal prosperity and increase.</p>\n<p>3. <em>Skin </em>shows statehood, recognition as a nation from man’s standpoint (from 1948 on), UN membership.</p>\n<p>When the “breath” or spirit enters, the earthly rulers of God’s government will be the Ancient Worthies (Old Testament Saints), the “princes in all the earth,” who will have their headquarters in Jerusalem <strong>(Psa. 45:16</strong>).</p>\n<p>This process is analogous to Adam’s creation. He was perfectly formed step by step from the dust of the ground (given flesh, skin, etc.). The last step was when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living soul. (Life begins when the <em>breath </em>enters the organism.) Hence, althoughIsrael was formed earlier, the nation will not live until the “breath” is imparted, a stage still future.</p>\n<p>When Israeldwells without walls in the near future, the seeming peace will be a false security, for <em>God </em>is the One who will give them breath in <em>His due time</em>.</p>\n<p>In summary, then, Ezekiel saw many human bodies that had no breath, no life. What an impressive motion picture to see as the bones came together and the bodies formed!</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>Although God told Ezekiel what to do, it was actually God who caused the breath to come into the bodies. He instructed Ezekiel to address the invisible wind and prophesy, “O wind, O breath, come from the four winds [the four breaths come from the north eventually], and breathe into these slain bodies, breathe into the lungs of these corpses, so that they will live.”</p>\n<p>As Ezekiel complied, the human bodies not only came alive but stood up on their feet. From a prone position, they stood up and constituted an “<em>exceeding great army</em>” in this big, open valley. What a very strange vision! Ezekiel would have wondered what was happening. A resuscitation was being implied—literally from the grave as well as figuratively as a nation. The Holy Remnant will hear earlier, but the nation must hear after Jacob’s Trouble.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>God Explains the Vision</strong></span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>Now God explained the vision to Ezekiel. The vision symbolically represented that in the Diaspora the people ofIsraelwould be scattered throughoutEuropeand elsewhere. Those Jews who returned toJerusalemafter the 70 years’ captivity thought this prophecy pertained to them, and the prophecy did include them, but a much greater dispersion occurred in AD 69–70. In fact, in this latter dispersion, Jews were even separated from their families and sold as slaves. (Incidentally, the Anglo-Israelite theory has some credibility in that there are evidences of Jewish names foreign to the native population. The Jewish people were so capable that some left an impression—such as their names. However, other parts of the Anglo-Israelite theory are erroneous.)</p>\n<p>A popular saying among the Jews was, “We are without hope, and our bones are dry.” They likened themselves to dry bones because of their experiences. What hope did a separated family have of being reunited? None. As time went on, the Jews felt their national polity was forever lost. God used such statements to show that He will miraculously restore the Jews to their former condition.</p>\n<p>In these verses the Hebrew <em>ruach </em>could just as appropriately have been translated “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” In verse 9 the King James translators probably wanted to emphasize the oxygen or air, so they used “wind.” The corpses needed to be oxygenated so that they would be rejuvenated and live. Wind, breath, and spirit all pertain to <em>air </em>in one form or another.</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.</strong></p>\n<p><strong> </strong>The prophecy continued: “O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.” A “grave” can be either in the ground or on top of the ground, for the “grave” is the <em>condition of death</em>, and not necessarily a place. One who dies in an explosion and is blown to bits is still considered to be “in the grave.”</p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p><strong>Ezek. 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.</strong><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>The word “spirit” is the Hebrew <em>ruach </em>again. The variations in translation help to give meaning to the vision. “Spirit” is a good word here, for “breath” makes the organism live, but “spirit” indicates a <em>consecrated </em>life.</p>\n<p>Verses 12–14 are proof that the infusion of breath is still future, as well as the opening of the graves (although the return from Diaspora has been a <em>partial </em>fulfillment). Israel will then know that Jehovah is the Lord—and that <em>He </em>has both prophesied and performed their revival as a nation.</p>\n<p>There are two thoughts with regard to the opening of the graves:</p>\n<p>1. The Jews were in various nations throughout the Diaspora, being prisoners without hope and cut off from God. They were (and are) called from these nations to go back to Israel. But this explanation is only <em>part </em>of the picture. The nation cannot fully come out from the grave until after Jacob’s Trouble when the breath of life is given. Even though Jews are back in the land, they are considered sojourners until they pass under the rod and a Holy Remnant survives <strong>(Isa. 4:3)</strong>.<strong> </strong>The sinew, flesh, and skin developments came <em>after </em>they were back in Israel for a while, and the breath will come <em>after </em>Jacob’s Trouble. The point is that the nation does not come from the grave like Lazarus—in a moment. Israel’s coming out of the grave is a <em>long process</em>. The bones do not come out from the other nations as a whole organism but piecemeal.</p>\n<p>2. Each bone represents one person. When collected, the bones represent people (plural), and eventually the people represent the nation.</p>\n<p>Some would say the breath has already entered Israel, pointing out Israel’s recognition as a nation, winning wars, etc., but <em>Israel</em><em> has not yet been recognized in the sense of this prophecy</em>. Not until <em>God’s </em>spirit enters Israel will the nation <em>live</em>, and the entering of God’s spirit will mean <em>consecration</em>. After Jacob’s Trouble, the Holy Remnant will consecrate, turn to the Lord. God will pour out His spirit (“the spirit of grace and of supplications”) upon the Holy Remnant <strong>(Zech. 12:10).</strong> The process will start with repentance and a mourning for Jesus as for an only son. At that time they will know that <em>God </em>is God, that <em>He </em>has opened their graves and saved them <strong>(Ezek. 37:13,14).</strong></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:63:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-vision-of-dry-bones/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:3;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:78:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:28:\"The Ox that was Want to Push\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:65:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-ox-that-was-want-to-push-2/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:74:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-ox-that-was-want-to-push-2/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:43:01 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:13:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:40:\"Special Features (click on Article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"equally yoked\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"Exodus\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"God\'s Law\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"gore\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"Gospel Age\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"kill\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"maul\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"mosaic law\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"new creature\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"old creature\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:2:\"ox\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"spiritual\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6354\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:408:\"Brother Frank has given a brilliant and I believe correct interpretation of the verses in Deuteronomy and Exodus concerning the Ox and the Ass and the Ox that wants to gore.\n\nThe old mind of fleshly aspect of the Christian is likened to the Ox that intends to do harm. How it is or should be dealt with is of prime importance in this message. The responsibility of the New Mind or Creature is also addressed.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17857:\"<h1><span style=\"color: #993300;\">The Ox that was Want to Push</span></h1>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Br. Frank Shallieu 1995</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/bones-kicking.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6356\" title=\"bones kicking\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/bones-kicking-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"187\" /></a>We will be considering Exodus the 21th chapter verses 28-31, the account of the ox that gores another animal or an individual.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:28</strong> If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit exonerated.</p>\n<p>What interests us in not just the letter of the Law, in which we see the reasonableness of this that is a man had an ox in his field and someone was gored to death by that animal. It says here, that the owner of that animal is exonerated; no guilt can be placed on him.</p>\n<p>What were they doing on his property where that can happen, and knowing what an ox is, a bull, and how erasable their nature is? They were endangering themselves if they see an animal loose and if they taunt it or are in the vicinity if that ox would kill a person trespassing his domain. The owner cannot be held liable for that circumstance.</p>\n<p>Deuteronomy tells us several things with regards to animals. In working with animals there is a law that prohibits the yoking to the plough of an ox and ass, because of an ox being of a full stature. The ass even though it is a powerful animal it is no match for the bull like strength of the heavier beast and when yoked together that unbalance is not doing justice to the animal. Even the stronger animal is out of kilter and the weaker would also be affected.</p>\n<p><strong>Deu. 22:10</strong> Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.</p>\n<p>The Apostle Paul in the New Testament shows us the spiritual symbology of this law. These animals represent to the Christian, himself, and what he does. We will go into this is a bit later, but Paul does say “be ye not unequally yoked.”</p>\n<p><strong>2 Cor. 6:14</strong> Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?</p>\n<p>This would mean, if you are unmarried and you consecrate your life to the Lord it would be very foolish to marry an unconsecrated person, as the Lord says don’t marry the unconsecrated. We do see a caveat in the scriptures, “unless you have given promise beforehand, that is, before you consecrated. But that is up to you to make that choice. When you are already married to someone who does not consecrate with you, that is also a different circumstance as well.</p>\n<p>So Paul uses these animals as examples. The ox is the person who has accepted the “truth” and the other is unequal in the sense that he hasn’t the benefit of the Holy Spirit and other things which brings soundness of mind, purpose and enriches one’s life in many ways. This is an unfair thing in nature to practice and certainly spiritually speaking as well. Thus we have a lesson of the natural and the spiritual.</p>\n<p><strong>1 Cor. 9:9</strong> For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?</p>\n<p><strong>1Tim. 5:18</strong> For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.</p>\n<p>You don’t muzzle the ox that treads the corn. As an example the Apostle Paul went throughout the mid-east establishing classes and witnessing and so forth, and others like himself, such as Barnabus who accompanied him, as well as others on different occasions. Since they have forsaken their livelihood it would not be improper for the brethren to temporally assist those who are working in the field, just as in nature you wouldn’t muzzle an ox who is doing the work for you. The ox is entitled to wages. This corn, in a way, would be their wages, not money. The laborer, whether man or beast, is worthy of his hire or compensation of some kind. So he draws from the Law spiritual lessons and applies them to us as new creatures.</p>\n<p>We come to this in Exodus 21<sup>st</sup> chapter starting with the 28<sup>th</sup> verse when it says about the ox goring a human being in the sense that it dies and the owner is not responsible. But when we read on we notice certain things that the ox seems to take a prominent position in this experience; it is the aggressor. In some of the verses we see we have two oxen were one kills another ox or some tragedy follows in connection with one of them. We find that there is an owner of an ox and someone else’s animal.</p>\n<p>What do these represent? In the New Testament the Apostle Paul definitely uses the beast as a comparison with the experiences of the Christian. In this case you have a dual picture that the owner is the new creature, the ox is the old creature that he possesses, the body. The owner is the new will that has this animal nature as it were. So we find that in verse 28 the owner is exonerated, because the incident occurred in which the owner would have no responsibility due to the carelessness of others who were too close in proximity to that animal so that they were gored to death.</p>\n<p>Now in verse 29, it shows another account where the ox was want to push.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:29</strong> But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.</p>\n<p>In this instance this animal was accustomed to push or attempt to gore with his horns. Now you are in a different position. Here is an animal that by nature is aggressive and dangerous. It means that there were previous incidents. How does one know an animal was want to push with its horns unless it manifested such behavior in several occasions. It may have wounded or killed another animal, or injured a person based on their behavior.</p>\n<p>At this point the owner has a responsibility, when he sees what has been done by his animal. He has to be very careful with regard to this matter. What is that responsibility? There are several options:</p>\n<p>1) Make a fence where the ox cannot go outside that boundary to injure anyone, but if someone comes in then the owner is not responsible as long as he has taken precautions.</p>\n<p>2) Stake the animal with a chain or something to give it limited range of free motion.</p>\n<p>3) Put it in a stall.</p>\n<p>If that animal kills another after his attention has been called to the previous behavior, the ox is then put to death. This was the case in the previous verse also. The ox was to be slain and the flesh was not to be eaten. If we find that the ox which was want to push kills another, and the owner has not taken the proper precautions, that owner is also put to death. He did not directly do the murder, but is responsible for “gross negligence” and is responsible and put to death as well.</p>\n<p>The antitype would be the person (the new creature/old creature) and we have to fight these desires of the flesh, some of which appear to be legitimate and some are clearly illegitimate. There is a responsibility for the New Creature in this earthen vessel. In this case when the owner is put to death, it represents the second death.</p>\n<p>If his flesh is “want to push” or is a habitual problem, the Bible says thorns and thistles or a person just being cantankerous by nature, and he is consecrated and is the same troublemaker and so forth and does cause injury to others, this case happened to be the death of another. An example can be where an individual is led astray and dies. You have three deaths in this scenario. The ox which kills the person and the owner and his ox are both put to death as a result. Jesus in the scriptures says, “he that stumbles one of the least of the little ones.” That stumbling is not just an irritation or little problem of some words uttered. It is where another person either by their deeds or actions or doctrine, if the Lord holds them responsible for the death another new creature in Christ, even a little one, it would be better that a cord and stone was put around their next and thrown into the sea. There would be no hope of surfacing or being resurrected.</p>\n<p><strong>Matt. 18:6</strong> But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.</p>\n<p>This is indicating different degrees of responsibility. In one case the owner of the animal that did the injury is completely exonerated. This second instance because of the habit manifested, he is put to death. In the law you have different degrees of slaughter: homicide, manslaughter, murder and when people through passion may make a quick judgment and kill someone.They may kill another but may not be held fully accountable or accountable at all depending on how it is done, say under emotional stress it is to be treated a little differently. But when it is a deliberate characteristic and nothing is done about it and this type of injury occurs either naturally or spiritually,it is the responsibility of the owner of that new creature having that body (or bull). The Law is very instructional with regard to Christian habits.</p>\n<p>Verse 30 continues:</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:30</strong> If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.</p>\n<p>Even though an owner is worthy of death because of this gross negligence, the ones that would do it (family members ) may want more not just his death. They may want everything he possess forfeited, not just his life. The victim’s family could exact a sum of money instead of the death penalty. In this case it is unlimited, no specifics. This may be a more desirable penalty because perhaps there may be a widow left who has no means of providing for herself. The law makes an allowance considering the victim. Today the victim isn’t given much consideration.</p>\n<p>So the law says a ransom can be assigned to the owner, thus opening up another circumstance. It doesn’t say who lays the sum upon him; the victim’s family or the court or the heavenly Father. A penalty and an alternate penalty is assigned. There is another qualification, whether he hath gored son or daughter. According to this judgment, it shall be done according to him.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. </strong><strong></strong></p>\n<p>The judgment of the previous verse applies also to verse 31. It can be the son or daughter or servant who [is] put to death because of gross negligence on the part of the owner of the animal.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. </strong><strong></strong></p>\n<p>In all these incidents the flesh of the ox should not be eaten. Anti-typically this is not appreciated. This is where the problem is. We can mentally see the owners responsibly; we can see the oxen’s responsibility; but the eating of the ox we can’t see. That is material benefit obtained of which the Lord disapproves of the thing being done. Some don&#8217;t extrapolate properly. Spiritually speaking there is fraternizing done with regard to people who should not be fraternized with, because of certain deeds that were done. Being eaten would show that other people are getting benefit, that is, fellowship from (in this case) the old man or old woman. That tie should be <em>severed completely</em>. Not only is the animal put to death, but the animal nature is disapproved, disavowed, excommunicated.</p>\n<p>We get now the value of a human, thirty shekels of silver, the price of a full grown man or woman. We see this identified with the death of Jesus when he was betrayed. This is an interesting thing of Ransom, payment or reimbursement.</p>\n<p>In verse 33 we have another case:</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:33</strong> And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;</p>\n<p>Here the man doesn’t cover his pit and subsequently an ox or an ass falls in. An ox and ass are used because they are of a different nature than other animals that are not as costly. That has to be taken into consideration when dealing with compensation. So this man did not take proper precautions when creating a dangerous or potentially dangerous hazard. If one makes a porch and doesn’t put a banister up and someone walks off, then the owner also is responsible because they didn’t make it safe.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:34</strong> The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.</p>\n<p>In this case the ox did not kill anyone, but got killed himself. The owner of the pit pays the full price of the dead beast and keeps it. Presumably the flesh can be eaten because this is not killed by another. This also pictures the old nature that is killled and not any damage to the new creature. This is a very complicated subject, but we are just broad brushing. The Law is very deep and has many valuable lessons which can profitably benefit us.</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:35</strong> And if one man&#8217;s ox hurt another&#8217;s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.</p>\n<p>In this case both are responsible and there were no witnesses to determine which animal was the agressor. In this instance also it was not known that one animal was “want to push” or not, just that two animals have a confrontation of some kind, but there is no past history of either. There has been a loss, and to be fair it is to be divided down the midde.</p>\n<p>Solomon got this principle and used its logic in the incident where he said to divide the child. This was done to deterimine who the real mother was.</p>\n<p>The live ox cannot be divided unless you kill it, but if you leave it alive there is more value involved. You can always eat it later, but in the interim it can be working, plowing the field serving your needs until it is needed for food. So here they are to liquidate the asset—that is the live ox&#8211;and divide the price. They can also sell the dead animal for food and divide that if one can’t eat it all.</p>\n<p>We see that the Law is just, there is fair play invovled. In considering a dispute or confrontation a judge has a very hard problem to learn to be a proper judge, as to how to be fair to both parties. Where one is to not be shown any mercy but only death, has to be considered too, but the circumstances have a lot to do with how it is handled.</p>\n<p>Now in verse 36:</p>\n<p><strong>Exo. 21:36</strong> Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.</p>\n<p>In this case you have an ox for an ox. Both parties have an animal and one gores to death the other. The one animal was want to push with his horn, in this case there is no division of the goods, and no human life is involved. It was just an animal that was ornery and got out of control. The owner of the dead ox will get double value. He gets the sale price of both animals. He gets more than just his own animal in this instance. The owner of the ornery animal also gets something&#8211;he gets the dead animal.</p>\n<p>When you go into the next chapter you find a case of a thief. If the thief is caught in the act, he has to pay five times the value of the goods that he was taking. This shows how the Lord views thievery, that is quite a penalty. Five times! Five hundrend percent! But if the party is not caught in the act, then there is a problem, because you don’t know if he really was fully responsible. You don’t know the details, so then in the final judgment it does ameliorate the perspective because he wasn’t caught in the act. If he was, then there is no question for the judge of who is guilty. It is completely manifest. But once it gets stale the judgment becomes more difficult. So from a practical standpoint a person who is to judge this matter and to make a fair allowance, the penalty has to be paid, but it isn’t quite the same as the other.</p>\n<p>The Law is like Paul says, <em>spiritual</em>. That is a very deep statement. In other words, even from a natural standpoint, fairplay and judgment has to be given. From a spiritual standpoint you have other characterizations that take place; so we have not considered this subject in real depth.</p>\n<p>It has helped us to see that when others discredit the Law, that Law is of God. It is God’s Law and not man&#8217;s. We cannot demean or diminish the Law itself, but when it comes to the grace of forgiveness in the Gospel Age, that is another matter. We find that even in the Law there is more liberty involved with regard from a natural standpoint to the New creature and the old man, but the New creature, when that is guilty there is no other recourse than Second Death&#8211;the death of the owner of the creature that did some injury.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:70:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-ox-that-was-want-to-push-2/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:4;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:66:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:74:\"Does the Bible teach there are guardian angels? See Matthew 18:10 please.?\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:105:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/does-the-bible-teach-there-are-guardian-angels-see-matthew-1810-please/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:114:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/does-the-bible-teach-there-are-guardian-angels-see-matthew-1810-please/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:06:45 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:9:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:45:\"Questions You Ask (click for the full answer)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Bible\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"Daniel\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Gabriel\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"guardian angels\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"legions of angels\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Mafia\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Michael\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:16:\"prince of Persia\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6351\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:223:\"The emphasis in this setting is to show the sensitivity of the Father and of Jesus toward these little ones—how highly they regard the consecrated and how much displeased they are with those who offend these little ones. \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4571:\"<h1><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/question-mark55.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6352\" title=\"question-mark\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/question-mark55.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" /></a>Does the Bible teach there are guardian angels? See Matthew 18:10 please.?</h1>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Verse 10 is helpful in an entirely different way too. It reveals that each consecrated Christian has more than one angel watching over and guarding him. If the guardian angel were always in heaven beholding the face of the Father, then he could not be down here superintending the providences of his assigned individual. Therefore, at least two angels (and probably more) are watching over each consecrated one. The angel in heaven, as the guardian angel, has the chief responsibility. Several angels, or “spiritual body guards,” are assigned to each individual, and one of these, the guardian angel, is appointed to be in charge and make decisions. This latter angel is responsible to the Father to make sure things are done properly.</p>\n<p>Another Scripture seems to indicate that each Christian has only one angel, but the statement is based on the thinking of the other disciples at the time Peter was in prison (Acts 12:1-16). James had just been beheaded, and Peter was scheduled for beheading the next day. The disciples prayed into the wee hours of the morning. When an angel appeared unto Peter and released him, the apostle went to the house where the others were praying. Peter knocked on the door, and Rhoda answered and then ran to tell the others with great joy. When she announced, “It is Peter!” the others thought she had seen his guardian angel (singular). However, this statement was just part of the narration of a historical event and was not a doctrine being taught.</p>\n<p>Satan concentrates more on certain individuals than others. Consider what Jesus said about Peter, who was a natural-born leader: “Satan has desired to sift you” (Luke 22:31). Satan knew that if he could get Peter to fall, many others would fall with him because of his influence. And it may not always be that an individual is so important. Rather, the circumstance and the effect that circumstance would have on the Lord’s people could be what is important.The point is that there is always a sufficient number of angels available to assist an individual in a given situation, even if that assistance requires activity in several areas.</p>\n<p>The emphasis in this setting is to show the sensitivity of the Father and of Jesus toward these little ones—how highly they regard the consecrated and how much displeased they are with those who offend these little ones. Jesus could have had 12 legions of angels assist him if he had so prayed (Matt. 26:53). Since a “legion” consisted of somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000 men, Jesus could have had at least (12 x 3,000) 36,000 angels. Why 12 legions? Perhaps it was to show that all of the spiritual “tribes” would subsequently have angels to guard them.</p>\n<p>Extra help was needed to answer Daniel’s prayer (Dan. 10:13). Gabriel was withstood by the “prince of Persia” (Satan) for 21 days until Michael came to help him. This incident shows that adversarial spirit powers are in tartaroo (around earth’s atmosphere). Even though limited to a certain condition or place (a “prison”), the fallen angels exercise great malevolent powers. It is like a Mafia member in prison who continues to manage with authority an illegal operation on the outside.</p>\n<p>To us, 21 days (three weeks) is a long period of time, and Daniel fasted for three weeks just to get an understanding of a prophecy. For Gabriel to not come to Daniel for 21 days seems like an inordinate amount of time from our standpoint, but this incident reveals that angelic time is different from ours. Time is relative, so a long time to us is a short time to angels. A thousand years are as a day in God’s sight, and yet, if He so desires, a day can be a thousand years; that is, God can do many things in a short period of time, and He also does things over a long concept of time from our standpoint. Thus 21 days could be like 21 minutes to the angels. When the angels watch an individual from birth to maturity and old age and death, it may be like watching a flower that perishes overnight, whereas to us, it is 80 years.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>See our verse by verse study on<a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2009/12/matthew-chapter-18-trespasses/\"> Matthew 18</a></p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:110:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/does-the-bible-teach-there-are-guardian-angels-see-matthew-1810-please/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"1\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:5;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:78:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"The Blessed Reign and End of Evil\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:68:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-blessed-reign-and-end-of-evil/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:77:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-blessed-reign-and-end-of-evil/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:00:38 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:13:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:40:\"Special Features (click on Article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"angels\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"Day of the Lord\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"jubilee\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"kings and priests\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"Millennium\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"priest of God\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"reign of Christ\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"Restitution\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Satan\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"second death\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:16:\"Thy Kingdom come\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"worship\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6347\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:176:\"During this reign of the Christ, all will have been brought to a knowledge of the truth, (1 Tim. 2:4) the true light will have enlightened every man, ever born into the world. \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6764:\"<div>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">The Blessed Reign and End of Evil</span></h1>\n</div>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p><strong><em></em></strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0066.htm#Rev2:6\"><strong><em>Rev. 2:6-10</em></strong></a></p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/reign.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6348\" title=\"reign\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/reign-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>&#8220;Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.&#8221;</em></p>\n<p>This seems scarcely to require comment. It shows the <em>holiness,</em> as well as blessedness of all that reigning company. Another thought is suggested, by the fact that these shall be <em>priests</em> to teach, as well as kings to reign. They will not only see to the execution of God&#8217;s laws, but will give instruction and assistance to mankind, such as will enable them to render obedience. Yes, it is a blessed thought, that we will be both kings and priests, (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0066.htm#Rev5:10\">Rev. 5:10</a></em></strong>) and reign with him the thousand years.</p>\n<p>During this reign of <em>the Christ,</em> all will have been brought to a knowledge of the truth, (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0054.htm#1Tim2:4\">1 Tim. 2:4</a></em></strong>) the true light will have enlightened <em>every</em> <em>man, ever born</em> into the world. (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0043.htm#John1:9\">Jno. 1:9</a></em></strong>) All will have been brought to a recognition of Christ; those in heaven, (angels) those on earth (living men) and those under the earth, (those now in their graves who must yet be brought to life). All will have been brought to recognize the power of Jehovah&#8217;s <em>anointed;</em> and unto him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess. (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0050.htm#Phil2:10\">Phil. 2:10,11</a></em></strong>) And all nations that God ever made (Sodomites and all) shall come and worship before him. (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0066.htm#Rev15:4\">Rev. 15:4</a></em></strong>) All people shall be blessed by having an opportunity to reach human perfection, and consequent perfect happiness, and life <em>ever-</em>lasting. This kingdom over earth, after subduing all evil, will cease by being delivered up to God, even the Father, as Paul tells us: &#8220;He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet: [in subjection] The last enemy that shall be destroyed, is <em>death.&#8221;</em> [The destruction of <em>death</em> implies the <em>raising</em> of mankind out of <em>it,</em> to perfection of humanity: abolishing <em>death</em> and all of its incipient stages of sickness, pain, etc. This will be a gradual process, requiring all of &#8220;the times (1,000 years) of <em>restitution&#8221;</em> for its complete accomplishment.]</p>\n<p>It should be remembered, that to humanity the Millennial Age is not the <em>perfect,</em> but the <em>perfecting</em> age, to be followed by that which is perfect; even as to the Bride of Christ, the Gospel Age is not the perfect, but the perfecting period, to be followed by ages of glory and perfection, of which the Millennial is the first.</p>\n<p>And when <em>all</em> things shall be put under him, then shall the Son, also, himself be subject unto him (God the Father) that put all things under him [that gave him the power]; that God may be all in all.&#8221; (<strong><em><a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0046.htm#1Cor15:25\">1 Cor. 15:25,28</a></em></strong>)</p>\n<p>But since all things before presentation to Jehovah must be <em>perfect,</em> whatever their nature; and since no sin is to go beyond the Millennial Age; therefore, it would seem but proper, that those who had experienced the blessings of knowledge and restitution, should be proved or <em>tested,</em> before they should be considered sin-proof. Having then reached, perfection of being and having had a previous knowledge of sin and its results, perfect obedience should be expected. Therefore Satan –evil–will be loosed a little season, in order that it may be manifested, whether their <em>obedience</em> results from a fear of the punishment of evil doing, or from a heart love of God, and a <em>desire</em> to do those things well pleasing to him.</p>\n<p>As evil will be <em>bound</em> by the infliction of punishment on the evil doer, so we may presume, it will be loosed by allowing evil deeds for a time to go <em>unpunished;</em> much as it is during this age. (See <a href=\"http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/htdb0039.htm#Mal3:15\"><strong><em>Mal. 3:15-18</em></strong></a>) With full liberty to do good or evil, the actions of each individual, will show his true disposition. Some will remain faithful, called holy ones (saints) others from among all nations, will join the insurrection of evil; and the two classes will thus be manifested. (<strong><em>Vs. 7-10</em></strong>) Then fire–judgments–will come upon them, and they will all be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, [fire representing judgment, trouble, and brimstone representing <em>extinction of life</em>–<em>no</em> life is proof against the fumes of brimstone–hence the force of the symbol, as a representative of extinction.]</p>\n<p>The trouble and judgment into which the devil and those followers will be cast, is of the same sort as that into which the symbolic BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET, <em>(image)</em> are cast at the end of this Gospel Age. These we have seen to be symbols, representing, not persons but <em>systems:</em> and these <em>systems</em> are said to go <em>alive</em> (while they are yet active and powerful systems) into the same lake of fire or <em>gehenna</em> fire of trouble and destruction. This <em>fire,</em> is <em>already</em> burning we think; beginning to torment those systems and to cause pain to all who do not recognize their true characters, and the <em>end</em> God has marked out for them–destruction.</p>\n<p>The devil and those followers shall be tormented day and night <em>for ever</em> <em>and ever;</em> more properly&#8211;<em>&#8220;unto&#8221;</em> the ages of ages or <em>&#8220;until&#8221;</em> the perfect ages are due.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p align=\"center\">\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:73:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-blessed-reign-and-end-of-evil/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:6;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:138:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:55:\"Christians ‘must choose between job or their faith’\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:84:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/christians-must-choose-between-job-or-their-faith/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:93:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/christians-must-choose-between-job-or-their-faith/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:55:09 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:33:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:42:\"Signs of the Times (click on article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:57:\"Andrea Minichiello Williams of the Christian Legal Centre\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"Archbishops\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"British Airways\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7:\"Chaplin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"Christian leaders\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"Christians\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"Church of England\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"crucifix\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"David Cameron\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"discrimination\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"European court\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"Gary McFarlane\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:13;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"gays\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:14;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"Great Britain\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:15;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"hijabs\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:16;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"intolerance\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:17;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"James Eadie QC\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:18;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"landmark case\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:19;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"Lilian Ladele\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:20;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"Nadia Eweida\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:21;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:12:\"Paul Diamond\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:22;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:4:\"Pope\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:23;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:30:\"registrar by Islington council\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:24;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"religion\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:25;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"religious symbols\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:26;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:27;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:22:\"scriptural requirement\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:28;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"sex therapy\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:29;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Sikhs\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:30;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"skull caps\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:31;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"turban\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:32;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"vital freedom\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6343\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:474:\"Christians may have to sacrifice their jobs if they want to express their religion at work, government lawyers declared yesterday. The state lawyers insisted workers are not entitled to wear a crucifix at work against the wishes of their employers – and if that is incompatible with their faith they ‘are free to resign’. The Christians’ counsel said it was wrong they should have fewer rights than other faith groups just because they had a ‘tolerant’ religion.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:7026:\"<h1>Christians &#8216;must choose between job or their faith\': Government lawyers claim at European court</h1>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Claims that four Christians were refused the right to express beliefs at work to be rejected</span></li>\n<li><span>Those who disobey employers should &#8216;go and find another job&#8217;</span></li>\n<li><span>Hard line means that Government doesn&#8217;t support right to wear a cross at work</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p>By <a href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&amp;authornamef=Steve+Doughty+In+Strasbourg\" rel=\"nofollow\">STEVE DOUGHTY IN STRASBOURG</a></p>\n<p><strong>PUBLISHED:</strong> 11:39 EST, 4 September 2012 | <strong>UPDATED:</strong> 02:33 EST, 5 September 2012</p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6344\" style=\"width: 175px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/david-cameron.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6344\" title=\"Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons earlier this year that the right to wear the cross at work was \'an absolutely vital freedom\' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198201/Christians-choose-job-faith-Government-lawyers-claim-European-court.html#ixzz26BHhrIXU\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/david-cameron-165x300.jpg\" alt=\"Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons earlier this year that the right to wear the cross at work was \'an absolutely vital freedom\' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198201/Christians-choose-job-faith-Government-lawyers-claim-European-court.html#ixzz26BHhrIXU\" width=\"165\" height=\"300\" /></a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons earlier this year that the right to wear the cross at work was &#39;an absolutely vital freedom&#39;</p></div>\n<p><span>Christians may have to sacrifice their jobs if they want to express their religion at work, government lawyers declared yesterday.</span></p>\n<p><span>They urged human rights judges in Strasbourg to reject a landmark case brought by four Christians who said they suffered faith-based discrimination.</span></p>\n<p><span>The state lawyers insisted workers are not entitled to wear a crucifix at work against the wishes of their employers – and if that is incompatible with their faith they ‘are free to resign’.</span></p>\n<p><span>The hard line contrasts starkly with David Cameron telling the Commons in July that the right to wear the cross at work was ‘an absolutely vital freedom’.</span></p>\n<p><span>He even pledged to change the law to ‘make clear that people can wear religious symbols at work.’</span></p>\n<p><span>Last night the Government’s handling of the case was attacked by Christians for its ‘astonishing double standards’.</span></p>\n<p><span>Government lawyers said the wearing of the crucifix was not a ‘scriptural requirement’ of Christianity, so employers had no obligation to recognise it.</span></p>\n<p><span>But in a confrontation at the court yesterday, the Christians’ counsel said it was wrong they should have fewer rights than other faith groups just because they had a ‘tolerant’ religion.</span></p>\n<p><span>The hearing at the European Court of Human Rights involved four test cases, two of which involve employees prevented from wearing a cross at work. Nadia Eweida’s row with British Airways led the airline to back down in 2006 and Shirley Chaplin who – after 30 years as a nurse – was told she could no longer wear her cross on duty for health and safety reasons.</span></p>\n<div> The other two cases are those of Lilian Ladele, who was sacked as a registrar by Islington council because she declined to conduct civil partnerships and Gary McFarlane, a Relate counsellor who lost his job in Bristol after admitting to bosses that he felt unable to give sex therapy to gays.<span>The case comes at a time when senior Christian leaders, including the archbishops of the Church of England and the Pope, have complained that Christianity is being pushed out of public life in Britain.</span></p>\n<p><span>Paul Diamond, for Mrs Chaplin and Mr McFarlane, said: ‘These are real people, real lives, real damage suffered. There is no knowing where this will end as society moves in a secular direction. The situation in the UK is now critical.’</span></p>\n<p><span>But James Eadie QC, acting for the Government, told the judges that none of the four Christians had suffered any form of discrimination.</span></p>\n<p><span>‘There is a difference between the professional sphere where your religious beliefs conflict with other interests and the private sphere,’ he said.</span></p>\n<p><span>‘Everyone has the right to express their beliefs, including the right to display religious symbols, but not an absolute right or a right without limits. That does not mean that in their professional sphere anyone can manifest their religious belief in any way they choose.’ He said that under European human rights rules, people were allowed to practise their religion in a ‘generally recognised form’.<br />\n</span></p>\n<p><span>However, they could not ask to express their religion in ways which were not a ‘scriptural requirement’.<br />\n</span></p>\n<div> He said: ‘Employees are free to resign if they find their employment incompatible with their religious beliefs’, adding: ‘They can obtain alternative employment in which they can reflect their religion as they wish.’<span>In the case of Miss Eweida, 61, from Twickenham, south-west London, wearing a cross was ‘a personal expression of faith and not a response to a scriptural command’.<br />\n</span><span>Mrs Chaplin, 57, he added, had been told not to wear her cross because of new health and safety rules at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.</span></p>\n<p><span>Of registrar Miss Ladele, Mr Eadie said Islington believed same-sex couples should have equal access to services and ‘this is a legitimate, even a weighty, aim for a public authority’.<br />\n</span></p>\n<p><span>For Miss Eweida, James Dingemans said that BA allowed Muslims to wear hijabs, Sikhs to wear turbans and bracelets, and Jews to wear skull caps.<br />\n</span></p>\n<p><span>Last night Andrea Minichiello Williams of the Christian Legal Centre said: ‘The Government’s double standards in their handling of these four cases has been astonishing.</span></p>\n<p><span>‘The PM says one thing to the media and in Parliament and yet shuns such statements at the most critical time, in legal submissions to the European Court of Human Rights.’<br />\n</span></p>\n<p><span>The court is likely to take several months before making a ruling.</span></p>\n<p>Read more: <a href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198201/Christians-choose-job-faith-Government-lawyers-claim-European-court.html#ixzz26BFaHOgY\">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198201/Christians-choose-job-faith-Government-lawyers-claim-European-court.html#ixzz26BFaHOgY</a></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:89:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/christians-must-choose-between-job-or-their-faith/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:7;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:54:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:90:\"#172 “Surely our grief he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried.” Isaiah 53:4 NASB\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:133:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/172-%e2%80%9csurely-our-grief-he-himself-bore-and-our-sorrows-he-carried-%e2%80%9d-isaiah-534-nasb/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:142:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/172-%e2%80%9csurely-our-grief-he-himself-bore-and-our-sorrows-he-carried-%e2%80%9d-isaiah-534-nasb/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:15:54 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:5:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:34:\"The Basics (click on Article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:24:\"bondage to sin and death\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"demon-possessed\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:24:\"sheep without a shepherd\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"synagogues\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6340\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:112:\"Each miracle of healing was motivated by Jesus heart- felt connection to the experience of the one who suffered.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5069:\"<p>Good morning!</p>\n<p>The compassion of Christ always led to action, to stand for the highest good and healing in God’s time and way for each individual. When we are faced with misunderstanding or hostility this compassion and this stand can bring peace to our hearts.</p>\n<p>Much love in Christ,</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Joy</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h1 align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">#172 “Surely our grief he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried.” Isaiah 53:4 NASB</span></h1>\n<p align=\"center\">\n<p><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/healer.gif\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6341\" title=\"healer\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/healer-293x300.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" /></a>“And the LORD said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.’ “ “I know their sorrows.” Exodus 3:7 (The word for sorrows in Isaiah and Exodus verses is the same, #4341.)</p>\n<p>Jesus bore or lifted (#5375) the grief (#2483 malady, anxiety, calamity) and sorrows of the bondage to sin and death. The result of bearing grief and carrying sorrow in his human ministry was through the exercise of healing power.</p>\n<p>“And when evening had come, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘He himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases.’ “ Matthew 8:16-17</p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: #993300;\">There is an important relationship between compassion and healing. </strong></p>\n<p>(Compassion: 4697 Splaghehnizomai: to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion Compassion in the Latin: to suffer with; concern for the suffering of another)</p>\n<p>Each miracle of healing was motivated by Jesus heart- felt connection to the experience of the one who suffered.</p>\n<p>“And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.</p>\n<p><strong>And seeing the multitudes, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd….” </strong> Matt 9:35-6 <strong></strong></p>\n<p>“And when he went ashore, he saw a great multitude, and <strong>felt compassion for them, and healed their sick</strong>.” Matthew 14:14</p>\n<p>“They said to him, ‘Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.’ <strong>And moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes</strong>; and immediately they regained their sight and followed him.” Matthew 20:33-34</p>\n<p>“And a leper came to him, beseeching him and falling on his knees before him, and saying to him, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ And <strong>moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him</strong>, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ ” Mark 1:40-41</p>\n<p>Luke 7:1312-14 “Now as he approached the gate of the city, behold a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, <strong>he felt compassion for her, and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ And he came up and touched the coffin</strong>; and the bearers came to a halt. And he said, ‘Young Man, I say to you, arise!” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.” Verse 15</p>\n<p>Jesus saw the need, he felt the need in the depths of his heart, and he responded to the need. He lifted the effects of sin and death by healing. This foreshadowed the permanent lifting and eradication of sin and death in both the heavenly and earthly kingdoms.<strong> To become the sin-bearer, he lifted the sin by bearing its weight upon himself. He felt the burden of the sin and the guilt that he was lifting. </strong>Each miracle of healing was motivated by Jesus heart- felt connection to the experience of the one who suffered.</p>\n<p>“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…”</p>\n<p>1 Peter 2:21 Instead of retaliation, we will keep entrusting ourselves to the one who judges justly,(1 Peter 2:23) and exercise compassion. (Jesus compassion led him to the cross. 2 Peter 2:24) As we consider him, we are inspired and strengthened to have compassion on the one who may insult or misunderstand us, opening our hearts to be touched by the world of the person who is suffering.</p>\n<p>He empowers to understand the impact of their circumstance, and to stand for the lifting of that burden.</p>\n<p>What a privilege to stand in partnership with him, for the healing and highest blessing of others regardless of the cost.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:138:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/172-%e2%80%9csurely-our-grief-he-himself-bore-and-our-sorrows-he-carried-%e2%80%9d-isaiah-534-nasb/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:8;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:84:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:48:\"#171 By His Stripes We Are Healed 1 Peter 1:24\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:81:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/171-by-his-stripes-we-are-healed-1-peter-124-2/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:90:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/171-by-his-stripes-we-are-healed-1-peter-124-2/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:58:44 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:15:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:34:\"The Basics (click on Article name)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"Barabbas\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"Cross\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"crucifixion\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"Father Adam\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"Gehennah\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"Great Shepherd\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"iniquities\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:30:\"pierced for our transgressions\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"Pilate\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"ransom\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:11;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"scourged\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:12;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:17:\"sentence of death\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:13;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:35:\"Shepherd and Guardian of your souls\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:14;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:21:\"wounds you are healed\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6336\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:190:\" We are experiencing the release of ‘Barabbas’ through Jesus willingness to bear his sentence of death and the restoration of our relationship with the Shepherd and Guardian of our life.\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5389:\"<p><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/Jesus_or_barabbas2.57174557_std.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6337\" title=\"Jesus_or_barabbas2.57174557_std\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/Jesus_or_barabbas2.57174557_std-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"187\" /></a>Good Morning!</p>\n<p>We are experiencing the release of ‘Barabbas’ through Jesus willingness to bear his sentence of death and the restoration of our relationship with the Shepherd and Guardian of our life.</p>\n<p>Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!</p>\n<p>With prayers that the Lord will continue to bless our Memorial meditations and preparation of heart,</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>Joy</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h1 align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">#171 By His Stripes We Are Healed 1 Peter 1:24</span></h1>\n<p>“And he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; <strong>for by his wounds </strong> <strong>you were healed.</strong>” <strong> </strong>1 Peter 2:24 (Wounds is Strong’s #3468: melops: from 3433 blow-mark; weal) {or welt}<strong> </strong></p>\n<p>“But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; <strong>the chastening for our well-being fell upon him</strong>, and <strong>by his scourging we</strong> are healed.” Isaiah 53:5</p>\n<p><strong> </strong></p>\n<p>Perhaps the wounds or blow marks referred to in 1 Peter 2:24 are connected with the stripes Jesus received when he was scourged.<strong> </strong>“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.” John 19:1; Matthew 26:26; Mark 15:15</p>\n<p>“And wishing to satisfy the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, Pilate delivered him to be crucified.” Mark 15:15 Jesus willingly surrendered to being scourged, Barabbas was released, and Jesus was then crucified.</p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong> Who was Barabbas?</strong></span></p>\n<p>He was the Son of Abba , (Strong’s# 912), ‘ son of father.’ He was a notable prisoner. Matthew 27:16 He was a rebel, who stirred up sedition with other fellow insurgents. He was guilty of murder. Mark 15:7 He was a robber, “one who plunders openly and by violence.” Vines; John 18:40</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>The Correspondence</strong></span></p>\n<p>This man Barabbas seems a fitting picture of Adam and the race of Adam.</p>\n<p>*Just as Barabbas was ‘son of father,’ Adam was a Son of God. Luke 3:38</p>\n<p>*Barabbas was already sentenced and serving time in prison: Adam and the race in his loins are under the sentence of death, and are in the prison house of death. Romans 5:12</p>\n<p>*Barabbas was the one who deserved chastisement. Adam and his family were condemned to death, guilty of rebellion or disobedience. Romans 5:15</p>\n<p>*Jesus sacrifice resulted in Barabbas release. Barabbas was released from being crucified, and then from being thrown into the Gehennah dump, where criminals bodies were disposed of. Jesus saved the whole race of mankind from permanently dying with no hope of life again. Romans 5:18</p>\n<p>Adam is represented by Barabbas. We are also, in a sense, Barabbas. Jesus was scourged, and then crucified and we are released.</p>\n<p>Perhaps the fact that Jesus was scourged, and Barabbas was released, is part of the meaning of Isaiah 53:5 We are healed by his stripes: we are healed because he was willing to experience the public humiliation and anguish of being treated like a criminal when he was truly innocent. He was willing to take Barabbas place, he was willing to secure Barabbas release, and he was willing to bear the weight of the full the sentence of death. “…<strong>the chastening for our well-being fell upon him</strong>, and <strong>by his scourging we</strong> are healed.” Isaiah 53:5</p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: #993300;\">Our healing</strong></p>\n<p>“For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25</p>\n<p>When Adam sinned, his Shepherding relationship under God was lost. God gave the Adam and the world over to the fruit of their choices. Romans 1:20-27 We are born into Adam’s world of sin, vulnerability and wandering. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…” Isaiah 53:6</p>\n<p><strong>But our relationship to God through Christ has been healed.</strong> We have returned to the one who knows how to protect and nurture our life. At great cost of suffering Jesus has created the opportunity to return to the Shepherding relationship with the Father, the Great Shepherd. This opportunity is offered now to those who are called and who choose to wholeheartedly follow Christ. A second opportunity to accept Christ and to be under his Shepherding care will take place in the Kingdom for Israel and all the nations of the earth. ­Ezekiel 34:23</p>\n<p>By his willingness to bear our guilt, humiliation and shame, we are healed through the gift of God as our Shepherd.</p>\n<p>Out of deep gratitude for this costly gift of being Shepherded by God and Christ, may we not wander or run away.</p>\n<p>May we run to Him!</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:86:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/171-by-his-stripes-we-are-healed-1-peter-124-2/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}i:9;a:6:{s:4:\"data\";s:72:\"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"child\";a:5:{s:0:\"\";a:7:{s:5:\"title\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:115:\"“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” What does this Bible quote mean for people like Mr R Dawkins?\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"link\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:142:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-fool-has-said-in-his-heart-there-is-no-god-what-does-this-bible-quote-mean-for-people-like-mr-r-dawkins/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:151:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-fool-has-said-in-his-heart-there-is-no-god-what-does-this-bible-quote-mean-for-people-like-mr-r-dawkins/#comments\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:7:\"pubDate\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:31:\"Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:53:19 +0000\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:8:\"category\";a:11:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:45:\"Questions You Ask (click for the full answer)\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:9:\"agnostics\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:8:\"atheists\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"catholic church\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:11:\"Christendom\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:19:\"highway of holiness\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:10:\"hypocrites\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:14:\"kingdom of God\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:8;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"Papacy\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:9;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:13:\"Protestantism\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:10;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:15:\"Richard Dawkins\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:4:\"guid\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:33:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/?p=6332\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:11:\"isPermaLink\";s:5:\"false\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:11:\"description\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:96:\"I think many people are atheists, not because of God, but because of how man has portrayed God. \";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:32:\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\";a:1:{s:7:\"creator\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:5:\"admin\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:40:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/\";a:1:{s:7:\"encoded\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:3047:\"<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h1><a href=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/question-mark54.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6333\" title=\"question-mark\" src=\"http://www.finaltrump.com/wp-content/uploads/question-mark54.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" /></a><span style=\"color: #993300;\">&#8220;The fool has said in his heart, there is no God&#8221; What does this Bible quote mean for people like Mr R Dawkins?</span></h1>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>Answer:</strong></p>\n<p>I just saw a recent interview with Richard Dawkins and some priests or something.</p>\n<p>Dawkins said he wasn&#8217;t an atheist.</p>\n<p>The priest said he was known as the World&#8217;s Greatest Atheist and Dawkins said not by him.</p>\n<p>He is an agnostic and very close to an atheist according to this interview, but hasn&#8217;t closed the door.</p>\n<p>I think many people are atheists, not because of God, but because of how man has portrayed God. Most of Christianity is just a sham and full of hypocrites, so when honest people think what these people do and teach are what the Bible says, even if they have read it themselves, they have those preconceived doctrines in their heads&#8212;no wonder they don&#8217;t want to worship the god that Christendom has invented.</p>\n<p>I thank God, the real God that He won&#8217;t write these people off because of all the hypocrites out there who teach doctrines of demons instead of the Truth. Christendom will certainly pay for stumbling the masses. &#8220;Babylon is fallen is fallen and has become the habitation of every unclean thing.&#8221; That scripture is directly talking about Christendom, the Catholic Church more specifically, but since most of Christendom is her daughters they come under that umbrella because they have the same spirit.</p>\n<p>When Christians pray for the Kingdom, what do they think they are praying for?</p>\n<p>God&#8217;s will to be done on the earth as it is done in heaven.</p>\n<p>For the resurrection of all of mankind</p>\n<p>For Isaiah 35 when the highway of holiness is opened all the redeemed (all mankind&#8211;who are not faithful Christians in heaven) will get the opportunity to walk on it and it says &#8220;though the fool shall not err&#8221;, that is the simple minded will be able to figure it out. And in the context of this question, those who didn&#8217;t believe in God in the present life&#8212;those fools, will not err, continue in their unbelief.</p>\n<p>The job of the faithful Christian of this age will be kings and priests in the next to help this present evil world come back into harmony with God that He may be All in All.</p>\n<p>Judgment begins at the house of the Lord (Christendom and anyone who calls themselves a Christian)&#8212;that is proof positive that the rest of the world is not under judgment at this time. Another proof is that the faithful Christian is promised in the next age to judge men and angels.</p>\n<p>So why do we want to condemn them now, when God hasn&#8217;t?</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:36:\"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/\";a:1:{s:10:\"commentRss\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:147:\"http://www.finaltrump.com/2012/09/the-fool-has-said-in-his-heart-there-is-no-god-what-does-this-bible-quote-mean-for-people-like-mr-r-dawkins/feed/\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:38:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/\";a:1:{s:8:\"comments\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}}}s:44:\"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/\";a:2:{s:12:\"updatePeriod\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:6:\"hourly\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}s:15:\"updateFrequency\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:1:\"1\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:0:{}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:27:\"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom\";a:1:{s:4:\"link\";a:2:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:0:\"\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:3:{s:3:\"rel\";s:4:\"self\";s:4:\"type\";s:19:\"application/rss+xml\";s:4:\"href\";s:41:\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/Finaltrumpcom\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:0:\"\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:2:{s:3:\"rel\";s:3:\"hub\";s:4:\"href\";s:32:\"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}s:42:\"http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0\";a:1:{s:4:\"info\";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:\"data\";s:0:\"\";s:7:\"attribs\";a:1:{s:0:\"\";a:1:{s:3:\"uri\";s:13:\"finaltrumpcom\";}}s:8:\"xml_base\";s:0:\"\";s:17:\"xml_base_explicit\";b:0;s:8:\"xml_lang\";s:0:\"\";}}}}}}}}}}}}s:4:\"type\";i:128;s:7:\"headers\";a:11:{s:12:\"content-type\";s:23:\"text/xml; charset=UTF-8\";s:13:\"last-modified\";s:29:\"Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:10:30 GMT\";s:4:\"date\";s:29:\"Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:18:13 GMT\";s:7:\"expires\";s:29:\"Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:18:13 GMT\";s:13:\"cache-control\";s:18:\"private, max-age=0\";s:22:\"x-content-type-options\";s:7:\"nosniff\";s:16:\"x-xss-protection\";s:13:\"1; mode=block\";s:6:\"server\";s:3:\"GSE\";s:18:\"alternate-protocol\";s:11:\"80:quic,p=0\";s:13:\"accept-ranges\";s:4:\"none\";s:4:\"vary\";s:15:\"Accept-Encoding\";}s:5:\"build\";s:14:\"20141210013258\";}', 'no') ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE `option_name` = VALUES(`option_name`), `option_value` = VALUES(`option_value`), `autoload` = VALUES(`autoload`)